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 Replies: 12 / Views: 6,044 |
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Valued Member
Canada
254 Posts |
Hi everyone!  This is my first time posting on the forum!  So anyways... I don't know anything about test tokens, let alone how to grade coins. However, I found a loonie that actually turned out to be a test token in circulation today. Any ideas about what it might be worth? Or even if anyone knows a little bit about them. My Charlton book is a couple years outdated so I didn't find any information about it. Thanks for your help!   |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
532 Posts |
Nice find...It's worth about 15-16$ on the net in mint shape. Looks like a 2004
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Valued Member
 Canada
254 Posts |
Thanks a bunch. That's pretty good for something that doesn't really have a face value! I ended up finding the page in my book about test tokens. The ones from 2004/2006 for the poppy/breast cancer sets say "Test Token ... Royal Canadian Mint" where mine says "Test ... Royal Canadian Mint". Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it could be the 1986 test token. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
532 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
548 Posts |
The 11-sided loonie test token is from 1985. There's three different varieties, all relatively valuable. Very nice find.
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Valued Member
Canada
158 Posts |
I agree, looks like the 85 one. Great find! Can't beat getting one of those at "face".
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Forum Kid
Canada
1074 Posts |
welcome to the forum! very interesting! I really want to start collecting test tokens, but they are so hard to find, and sometimes so expensive! 15-20 possibly.
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Valued Member
Canada
254 Posts |
It's been a while, but I got some more information about this. I talked to a coin dealer at a local flea market, and he said that it would be one of three tokens. 1: 1984, 120 beads, bronze plated nickel BV $15-20 UNC 2: 1984, 120 beads, nickel BV $400-600 UNC I ruled out options 1 and 2 because of a slight design difference 3: 1984, 121 beads, gold plated nickel BV $250-300 UNC 4: 1986, 121 beads, nickel BV $100-200 UNC Between 3 and 4, there are very minor differences in thickness, diameter, and weight.  I will try and find a scale that can measure tenths of grams, but the diameter and thickness measurements are so precise that they're killing me!  Edit: added book value in uncirculated condition Edited by Shoeplier
11/10/2014 12:50 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
254 Posts |
I finally took this again to my local flea market to borrow a precise weigh scale. 121 beads, 7.0 grams. (I could not get an accurate diameter measurement.) According to my book, this is the c.1986 test token bronze-plated nickel; I highly doubt that this is gold plated. Book value in uncirculated condition is $100-200  Quote from Charlton's, 2013 (67th) edition: "This test token has been tumbled and the edge rounded slightly from the original 11-sides to mirror circulation wear. The question arises, who simulated the wear: the Royal Canadian Mint or Industry?" It has strange patterns that run horizontally across both sides of the coin, that you might be able to see in the picture (especially the English side). It's hard to tell, but it does look slightly rounded as well. I really have no idea where/how people would have originally got this and what compelled them to spend it, but I can't complain.   |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1018 Posts |
Great find, I wish I had/found one. Very hard I would assume to find in circulation....congrats!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
693 Posts |
Quote:
According to my book, this is the c.1986 test token bronze-plated nickel...Book value in uncirculated condition is $100-200 Really nice find! I'd love to find one and keep it as a pocket piece. Regarding your valuation - once it entered circulation there is no way to tell if it is the 1986 issue or the 2004 issue (unless you found it before 2004). The specs are the same for both. So the market value would follow the 2004 pricing. There were 10,000 pliofilm sets of tokens released in 2004. So, from a buyer's perspective, it would be worth something in the range of $10 or less. |
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Valued Member
Canada
254 Posts |
Quote:
Once it entered circulation there is no way to tell if it is the 1986 issue or the 2004 (Unless you found it before 2004). Surprisingly, there are some minor differences between the two. The 1986 nickel core has a weight of 7.0 grams vs. 7.1; the 1986 has a diameter 2 mm shorter and a thickness of 2 mm thicker than the 2004/6. However, the most obvious difference is that the 1986 says "Test / Royal Canadian Mint" and the 2004/6 says "Test Token / Royal Canadian Mint". You're right that the minor differences make it hard to determine which test token is which, but it can be done. (It hurt my head to try and measure the diameter that was different every time.) I don't think I'll sell it because I would receive much less since it came from circulation. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
693 Posts |
I never realized the legend is different. That's a good way to tell!
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Replies: 12 / Views: 6,044 |
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Posted 10/19/2014 2:00 pm
