RCNA Member Selling Counterfeit Canadian NCLT

nickelsguy, every year about half a dozen members here admit that they buy Chinese counterfeits for"educational" purposes. Judging by the support they get and the comments here by members who see nothing wrong with owning counterfeits, there are at least ten times as many members buying these for "educational" purposes.Multiply that by the number of collectors who are not members and the number owning these coins for educational purposes is in the thousands.They see purchase and possession of counterfeits in the same light as smoking pot, sure it's illegal but so what, it's for recreational/educational purposes. But the danger in this instance is to future generations of collectors.

This is the only fake coin I own.
I certainly "Educated" this puppy

I'm watching with interest any action that RCNA takes. The timing of this situation is somewhat ironic. I've contemplated becoming a member, while a little voice in the back of my mind whispers..."why would you want to do that, you've had more than enough lessons in life on how associations tend to morph into a group of people with self-serving interests without any regard to benefiting or promoting the general cause".

On the topic of Educating - by virtue of definition of the word "educate", it involves activity to TEACH the general public various ways and means to detect fakes and to understand WHY "copies or replicas" of NCLT (Non-circulating Legal Tender) such as Superman sets is illegal to own and collect under Canadian law, in order to protect and preserve the good integrity of the coin collector market. The intended outcome of education is so the general public will AVOID buying it. It's utterly preposterous that a person said to be "Educating" is profiting from the distribution of fakes.

Any numismatic organization that condones selling or collecting of counterfeit, whereby members are given a false umbrella of protection under its Bylaws, clearly is part of the problem. Because when the proliferation of fakes that contaminate the Canadian coin collector market is supported and even encouraged, why would the RCMP care?

Maybe the ONA or RCNA ought to invite Nickelsguy (Mike Marshall) to speak on the related topic of Educating and Counterfeiting? I can understand his frustration along with that expressed by others on this thread....

Why is it that both the RCNA and the ONA are "Flim Flamming" over this obvious breach of ethical behaviour by one of it's members when the proof is staring them in the face?
One states it will "Follow Protocol" and the other won't act until a decision is made by the other
It almost looks like they are "Closing Ranks" to protect one of their own here

That's certainly what it looks like at this point in time.

But surely one of them knows that somewhere written in their charter is the fact that it's the Board of Directors who are personally liable for the business that a nonprofit association undertakes?

If one of their members chose to, I'd imagine they could open a storefront selling Chinese knockoffs - accordingly labeled with a " replica" sticker - and when the police raided their stock, they'd be in a good position to sue RCNA for loss of earnings because those Bylaws specifically stipulated it to be acceptable.

The potential liability is the reason why Bylaws of any Assocation must comply with the Law of the Land......regardless what powers members may deem have been bestowed upon themselves, in the ability to write "rules".

I'm just going to interject a few words here (for there's not much I can add).




I do know that's not the case. This is a national organization that has existed since 1950 and there are protocols to follow. Lynching is not acceptable. Circumstances would not matter (within reason) and it would be the same for any similar organization.

Personally, I agree with the majority here on the subject of counterfeits: there is no valid reason to own one and saying you're "educating" is like saying zoos educate the public about how animals behave in the wild.

No one member can state what will happen here because no one member makes such a decision. I'm as interested as anyone else. I do have every faith that it will be handled correctly.

Counterfeiting is an important subject and it's important situations like this arise to better ourselves to fight against it. This is an opportunity for the RCNA to get all their proverbial ducks in a row (e.g. have the display guidelines and by-laws mesh) and I'm certain it's being recognized as such.

John, counterfeiting of Legal Tender, whether it's circulating or non- circulating is not exactly the same as reproductions of filed trademarks or patents. Counterfeiting of currency is governed by the Criminal Code and because it's a criminal offence it's policed by law enforcement. RCM "is" the government, no reason for them to report infractions to themselves. Any member of the public has the right to file a police report about anyone breaking the law. (Whether police consider it important enough to act on it is another matter.)

Violations of trademark or copyright are resolved only by the holder of the trademark proving their claim of lost $$$$$ in a civil court.

@ chequer. Good to know the matter is getting attention! Sometimes it's easier for people outside an organization to influence necessary change than it is from those within.

Sophiew deserves acknowledgement for sharing the issue with CCF. Obviously he/she must have been at the point of especially upon receiving accusations of harassment in the email from the seller.