Posted 01/07/2008 12:21 pm
Hi grmike,
I would say that ASUTodd is right, that 1939 has more survivors than the other higher mintage dates, and for two reasons.
Most collectors are drawn to low mintage numbers (ie the 1970 5 and 10 cents), and by consequence those coins are hoarded by large numbers of collectors. The hoarding of coins skews the numbers in terms of survivors, and a coin that had lower mintage than other coins ended up with more survivors because it was saved from day one.
A second reason that comes to my mind, especially for the 1941-45 cents is the second world war. At that time, the government was in constant need of money, and any extra money a family had was generally used for purchase of war bonds, or some other war-related expense. Coins were spent, not hoarded, which meant that the majority of coins issued during that period were well circulated, and high grade examples did not survive. The expenses of the war didn't hit the average Canadian until 1941 (which is why the 5 cent went to tombac in 1942), and thus the 1939 and 1940 cents were saved.
I would say that ASUTodd is right, that 1939 has more survivors than the other higher mintage dates, and for two reasons.
Most collectors are drawn to low mintage numbers (ie the 1970 5 and 10 cents), and by consequence those coins are hoarded by large numbers of collectors. The hoarding of coins skews the numbers in terms of survivors, and a coin that had lower mintage than other coins ended up with more survivors because it was saved from day one.
A second reason that comes to my mind, especially for the 1941-45 cents is the second world war. At that time, the government was in constant need of money, and any extra money a family had was generally used for purchase of war bonds, or some other war-related expense. Coins were spent, not hoarded, which meant that the majority of coins issued during that period were well circulated, and high grade examples did not survive. The expenses of the war didn't hit the average Canadian until 1941 (which is why the 5 cent went to tombac in 1942), and thus the 1939 and 1940 cents were saved.
