One of only a handful of national-level events combining philately and numismatics in Canada, the National Postage Stamp and Coin Show includes a ‘smorgasbord’ of interesting material on a bourse filled with top stamp and coin dealers as well as a world-class exhibition organized by the North Toronto Stamp Club (NTSC)

Numismatics and philately are coming together in the Greater Toronto Area this weekend for the three-day National Postage Stamp and Coin Show.

“Both of these fields – and I’ve done a bit of coin collecting, too – are history in your hands,” said NTSC President John Wilson. “Everybody who enjoys history – anyone who enjoys looking a little more carefully at the world around them – will find it very interesting.”

These “intensely interesting” journeys through time are what lay at the heart of both hobbies, Wilson added: each cover that made its way out of Nazi Germany has an “aura;” each token struck by early Canadian business owners tells a story. All of this and more is slated to flood the bourse floor this May 13-15 at Mississauga’s International Centre, where nearly 30 dealers from across Canada and abroad will be buying and selling a “smorgasbord” of numismatic and philatelic material.

Importantly, parking is free, and admission is only $3 (although it’s free to attend on closing day, May 15).

73rd ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Wilson said he’s excited to continue the NTSC’s 73-year exhibition tradition this weekend.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said, adding it’s also the club’s 78th anniversary this year. “It builds on the footsteps of some very solid philatelists – people who really enjoyed the study and club side of the hobby – so it’s very satisfying.”

The exhibition promises to offer a number of “visual treats” – things most people have only seen in reference books – to attendees of the show.

“Any exhibit represents a highly focused, very creative look at a subject, which the ordinary collector has kind of scraped the surface of,” he said. “You’re going to get the benefit of deep and profound study of an area, or you’ll get a new take on a new area, something you’ve only seen one or two of.”

There’s simply “no display from which you cannot learn something,” Wilson added.

“North Toronto has been known as an exhibiting club for a long time because of this long run, and we attract people who exhibit at a high level,” he said. “For anybody who attends, you’re going to have a chance to see some good exhibits, learn some interesting things, and troll the dealer tables, which is always fun. Browsing through dealer stocks and looking at history on display will be a blast.”

And Wilson said he means what he says: “anybody who attends” – even the non-collecting general public – will have an interesting time.

“I know it can,” he said, about whether a coin and stamp show can appeal to the general public.

“I was the general public not so long ago.”

A ‘SMORGASBORD’ OF MATERIAL

Mike Walsh, part-owner of Trajan Media, which publishes Canadian Coin News (CCN) and Canadian Stamp News (CSN), said there will be a “smorgasbord” of philatelic and numismatic material at this weekend’s show, and attendees as well as nearly 30 attending dealers will be buying and selling.

Among the material to be available to attendees are scores of Canadian and worldwide stamps, souvenir sheets and first-day covers; boxes upon boxes of postcards; a variety of Canadian and foreign coins and banknotes; an extensive selection of Royal Canadian Mint products; medals; militaria; tokens; bullion; and coin and stamp supplies.

SHOW BUSINESS Walsh said Trajan Media has been exploring a return to the show business since it sold the popular International Collectors’ Fair more than a decade ago. “We are excited to be getting back into the show business,” said Walsh “It is a good fit for Trajan, and a great benefit for our dealers and show-goers as we have the ability to successfully market the shows through our publications, websites, e-newsletters, our social media outlets and other resources.”

The show, located at 6900 Airport Rd., will be open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, May 13. Doors open at 10 a.m. on the following two days, closing at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $3 on May 13-14 and free on closing day, May 15. Children under 16 are free for the entire weekend.

For more information, visit stampandcoinshow.com.