About Me

Where to begin.....

I have collected coins and studied numismatics (history of the World's money) for over 30 years. Starting with a penny collection and a Mountie quarter, I discovered my first coin shop. I hung around there so much they decided to hire me. I was given a broom and a rag and I started at the bottom. Over the years I have worked for several coin shops, either behind the counter or on a consultation bases.

I have been on the executive of the local numismatic society for over a dozen years. I am a past president after four terms. I was the recipient of the Donald D. Paterson Award for 1993 and the Society bestowed an Honorary Life Membership to me in 2002. With the assistance of other members, I chaired Coin Week activities during the 90's, and formed a junior club for the next generation.

Our city is fortunate to have a numismatic museum. It is a pleasure to volunteer with the Curator and the team. They have given me the opportunity to share some of my collection with the public. The first time was in China through the Eye of the Coin, December 22, 1998 - March 5, 1999. It had such a popular response we expanded it for the Year of the Dragon and displayed it from the Chinese New Year till the end of the summer. At this time I was associate curator with Geraldine Chimirri-Russell. At the same time I was loaning numerous items for the exhibition Women in Profile: Famous, fabulous & forgotten. In September 2000 The Money / Argent Show went on display with almost a thousand items. I was there for that opening and represented the people who worked so hard putting it together. The show traveled to other cities in 2002 and closed in our Nation's capital on April 13, 2003. We also organize an annual 'Road Show'; the first few years were just for numismatic items but now it has expanded to include antiques of all sorts.

Garth the Coin Guy came into being with my first appearance on the A Channel's The Big Breakfast show in June of 98. Now you can see me every second Friday of the month (schedules permitting) telling you about money worth a premium that is in circulation plus something else interesting in numismatics.

I have worked with the prop masters of production companies supplying the right coin, banknote and antique.

Two of my favorite items are the blacksmith token and Ming Note.

I found the token (CH - BL #19) for twenty cents in a junk coin bin in 1991. It is only the second one found. The first one was discovered by the late Robert C. Willey in the 70's and bought for a dime. His example now belongs to the People of Alberta and is housed in the public archives of The Provincial Museum of Alberta in Edmonton.

The Ming Note is the oldest paper money available to the collector. It is the last of the hoard brought out of China after the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. A Swedish doctor collected almost a hundred notes from the soldiers who found them under Statues of Buddha in the Forbidden City. They were exclusively sold through the paper money operation of SPINKS, London - the oldest coin shop in the world.

Credits:

Numerous visits to The Big Breakfast Show on the "A Channel"

President of the Calgary Numismatic Society, 1997-2001