I’m reaching out to the numismatic community for insights regarding a rare 1944 Tombac Canadian Victory Nickel that belonged to my late father. He was a passionate collector, and this coin was one of the most prized pieces in his collection. Sadly, he passed away in November 2024, and the coin is now part of our family legacy.
The coin has been certified by PCGS, and we understand that it is an exceptionally rare piece, with only a handful known to exist. We are considering the possibility of putting it on the market but would like to gauge collector interest and get a better understanding of its current market value before making any decisions.
If anyone has insights on recent sales, estimated values, or potential venues where such a coin would be best auctioned or sold, we’d greatly appreciate your expertise.
Looking forward to your thoughts—thank you in advance!
I understand the request for a photo, but given the rarity of this coin and how easily images can be shared without permission, I’d prefer not to post one publicly. The coin is PCGS certified, and I’m simply looking for informed opinions on its estimated market value today. If anyone has insight into past auction results or private sales of similarly unique Canadian coins, I’d appreciate the input.
You can look up your PCGS cert number here: https://www.pcgs.com/cert/ Put in your number and the results (usually) have a link to the last auction record.
I am, in fact, *not well informed*, because I am not a collector--my dad was. I figured I'd seek out some informed opinions from people who share enthusiasm for this field. Your ‘opinion’ feels unkind and unhelpful.
Even by Numista statistics, 1 in 100 people own the 44 coin (I only have the 1943), with a recorded mintage of 8000 the comment of „only one known“ is strange but not unrealistic if they were never released into circulation. i.e. replaced with the steel version.
There is some confusion with the two versions and recorded auctions thereof, only recorded genuine auctions of the Tombac version being linked by Numista are for 1943. I am assuming that you (disarray) have searched the internet yourself for past sales?
If it is the holy grail of coins „only one known“ it will be worth a fortune, if Numista statistics are correct and 1 in every 100 owned by members (unknown number of members who own a tombac version, but 105 willing to swap 1943) is true then there are just a handful known, maybe under 100, which is still a very rare coin.
So the only thing I can recommend is to contact PCGS as they should have records of past sales of coins they have graded. Also you can contact NGC, for the same information.
„If your reply or post in the Forum stinks of AI, I will call you out! Knowledge comes from experience, the I in AI stands for incompetence.“
I am, in fact, *not well informed*, because I am not a collector--my dad was. I figured I'd seek out some informed opinions from people who share enthusiasm for this field. Your ‘opinion’ feels unkind and unhelpful.
So you have everything concerning the coins, what more would you need? I'm not trying to offend you, but what's the problem?
You seek for help but you're not helpful yourself either. All we ask is a picture. The coin is certified and supposed to be unique. So we already have a picture of that coin. We just want to know if that's the coin your father had. So give us the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th number of the certification and then we know if we're talking about the same coin.
We asked for the cert number so we could do the value search for you. Since you won't tell us we did the next best thing by telling you how to find it yourself. We're trying to help but if you won't let us we can't.
I did submit a CR to move that auction record to the right coin. Seems funny it's listed as both Tombac and KM# 40 but for a selling price of $101 it's obviously not the Tombac one.
In 2018, when my father considered selling the coin, our contact at Heritage Auctions estimated its value between $30K and $50K. Now, we have a dealer offering to facilitate a direct sale to a buyer for $75K, though they would take a 10% commission. We’re trying to determine whether an auction—reaching a wider audience—might yield a higher price.
To answer Essor Prof’s question, my father purchased the coin from SilverTowne in Winchester, Indiana. The receipt is dated 8/18/2000, and I also have a photo of the check he wrote for the coin, dated 8/30/2000. The sale was facilitated by his good friend, John Abbott of Abbott Corporation in Birmingham, Michigan.
I understand it’s difficult to value something unique, especially when no direct comparables exist. However, I was hoping to get a sense of whether it would be wiser to proceed with the current offer or take a chance at auction. It feels like a classic ‘bird in the hand’ situation, and I’d appreciate any insights
You didn't answer my other question, the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th number of the certification. Then we know we're talking about the same supposedly unique coin.
You didn't answer my other question, the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th number of the certification. Then we know we're talking about the same supposedly unique coin.
I think the OP either has the coin or is going to steel it! 😂
Edit, he claimed the same thing in 2018. I think he has it.
Quote: "Peter M. Graham"If you have a 1944 Tombac, be very happy. Only 8,000 minted and only 1 certified by Canuck grading services.
Yes, my father is the current owner of the one and only 1944 Tombac Canadian 5 Cent Piece. As you may have read in the April 17th issue of the Canadian Coin News, he will be putting it up for auction on eBay this month. If you have an interest in following the auction, please send an email to tombacnickel@gmail.com to be added to the launch announcement list--You will be provided a link to the auction page. You can also follow @TombacNickel on Twitter for more info.
„If your reply or post in the Forum stinks of AI, I will call you out! Knowledge comes from experience, the I in AI stands for incompetence.“
I found this is another site's forum, "Most of the 1944 5c tombac reamined unissued and were melted; only one is known to have survived. The coin was auctioned at the ANA sale in 1999 for $38,500 USD."
I assume that sale was to your father. Why ask us about recent sales if you knew you had the only one available and the most recent sale was to your father?
"George VI Tombac 5 cents 1944, Bust left/Large V with the date and denomination, KM-40 (listed only as rare), VF 35 PCGS. This is the only tombac 1944 5 cent known, and it must be considered unique. In 1942, Canada, like the U.S., had a severe shortage of nickel caused by heavy usage during the war effort and was forced to change the composition of its nickel coinage to a tombac brass alloy. A substantial number of the new tombac 5 cent pieces were struck and the tombac alloy was continued with a new design, into 1943. According to the 1944 Canadian mint report, $400 in face value, or 8,000 tombac 5 cent pieces were also produced in 1943, dated 1944. Later the mint decided to produce its 5 cent coinage in steel with nickel and chromium plating. No one knows the fate of the other 7,999 coins, but it is known that no other example has surfaced since Michigan dealer John Abbott bought this specimen, as lot # 2025, at the 1982 Mid-Year Convention sale conducted by Kurt R. Krueger. The 1944 tombac piece is identical to the 1942-43 tombac pieces with a weight of 4.55 gms, and a specific gravity of 8.77. The Charlton Standard Catalog of Canadian Coins lists the 1944 tombac 5 cents as a pattern, although the 1944 RCM Report indicates that it was struck as regular issue coinage. The fact that this coin is VF shows that it obviously circulated for a considerable length of time. Until another example appears (and after 51 years we do not think it likely) this coin must be considered unique and the rarest Canadian regular issue coin."
The coin was auctioned at the ANA sale in 1999 for $38,500 USD."
I assume that sale was to your father. Why ask us about recent sales if you knew you had the only one available and the most recent sale was to your father?
The coin was indeed auctioned at the ANA Signature Sale at August 12, 1999 for $ 35.075
OP's father both the coin in 2000 so it was not at the ANA sale.
Quote: "Peter M. Graham"If you have a 1944 Tombac, be very happy. Only 8,000 minted and only 1 certified by Canuck grading services.
Peter M. Graham says the coin was certified by Canuck grading services. So there might be 2 known since PCGS also certified that coin. Of course it's possible that the owner of the coin graded by Canuck grading services broke his slab open to send it to PCGS because that's a bigger and better known grading service.
Hi disarray. Have you heard of "Great Collections"? They're a huge coin auction house based in California and their president (Ian Russell) has closed some record breaking coin sales through both private sales and auction. Although most of their sales are concentrated in American coins, I've purchased PCGS certified Canadian coins and banknotes from them too. You may want to reach out to Ian directly and see what he would recommend. His contact information is listed here: https://www.greatcollections.com/main-about
It's a tough decision as to whether you should take the "bird in the hand" or try the auction route. I wish you the best of luck in whichever decision you make.
You didn't answer my other question, the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th number of the certification. Then we know we're talking about the same supposedly unique coin.
Hi disarray. Have you heard of "Great Collections"? They're a huge coin auction house based in California and their president (Ian Russell) has closed some record breaking coin sales through both private sales and auction. Although most of their sales are concentrated in American coins, I've purchased PCGS certified Canadian coins and banknotes from them too. You may want to reach out to Ian directly and see what he would recommend. His contact information is listed here: https://www.greatcollections.com/main-about
It's a tough decision as to whether you should take the "bird in the hand" or try the auction route. I wish you the best of luck in whichever decision you make.
Thanks so much for the recommendation. Yes, I actually contacted Ian in 2018 when my dad first wanted to sell the coin. We approached Heritage Auctions, Stacks and Bowers and Great Collections. Ian was interested in putting it up for auction, but my father did not want to pay such a large commission, so we declined. I actually had his name on my desk to call today. This must be a sign that I'm on the right path. I appreciate your feedback.
Get it in the CNA convention in July. It is in Calgary and I would love to see such a unique coin from Canadian history. It would create as much interest as the 1936 dot cent that was verified earlier.
