PCGS Set Registry: Coins of Newfoundland

Imagine being in the middle of the ocean with nothing but your sails, paddles, and shipmates. No technology exists to tell you which way is east or west. Just the Sun, Moon, stars, and your instincts guide you and your crew. This describes how seafaring Vikings made new discoveries via the seas centuries ago. Around 1000 A.D., a Norseman explorer or Viking named Leif Erickson traveled across the Atlantic Ocean.

Leif reached one of the most easterly points of Canada. His first likely sight of land on this side of the Atlantic was views of verdant sea cliffs that reminded him of the seascapes from his homeland in Iceland. The inlands that he reached were populated with grass, trees, and grapes. He dubbed this region in the Norse language as Vínland hit góða (Vinland the Good), known today as Vinland. In the 1960s, scientists began excavating a site known today as L’Anse aux Meadows, which was the first Norsemen colony that was discovered in North America. Fragments found from this site were dated between 990 to 1050 A.D. But recently, the University of Groningen in The Netherlands tested wooden fragments from this site and concluded they were dated from 1021 A.D. This early settlement was in the country we know today as Newfoundland.

Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the French, Portuguese, Spanish, and English began exploring this Canadian region. One of the earliest explorers during these times came from Portugal, and his name was João Fernandes Lavrador. His surname is part of this Canadian province's official name, which is known today as Newfoundland and Labrador. England began to settle this region around 1610, the French also followed suit, and the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 officially made this region English. Disputes continued with the French, and England prevailed over this region and afterward it became a British Colony.

During colonial times in the early 1830s, English settlers bred dogs in Newfoundland known as the St. John’s water dog. These dogs lived in the “Lesser Newfoundland” or “Labrador.” The coat of this dog was impervious to water, they were excellent swimmers, and they worked alongside fishers during that time. Soon, the St. John’s water dogs made their way to England, they were bred with English retriever dogs, and the labrador retriever was born. Today, these intelligent dogs are the most widely used as guides for their human counterparts and they are one of the most popular types of dogs in the world. Right around the time when the labrador retriever became a household name in England, machine-stuck coinage was first introduced to the people of Newfoundland in 1865 under the rule of Queen Victoria.

This series of coinage was designed and engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon who comes from a family lineage of legendary English artists. Five denominations were struck for circulation at the London Mint in 1865: the bronze large cent; silver 5 cents, 10 cents, and 20 cents; and the gold $2 denomination. Out of all these denominations, the $2 coin has one of the lowest recorded mintages of 10,000 pieces in 1865, and these coins are highly condition-sensitive. Generally, the $2 gold coins are found in circulated condition, and above-average specimens are quickly snapped up by collectors. This gold denomination was struck at both London (no mintmark) and the Heaton mint (H mintmark) intermittently for only eight dates, and some years will prove more challenging to acquire than others. For example, a PCGS AU55 1865 $2 could be purchased for about $1,500 in the marketplace today, and in January 2021, a PCGS MS61 1865 $2 sold for a little under $3,000 at Heritage Auctions.

The price of gold has increased since 2021, and uncirculated examples of these coins will trade at much higher premiums than they did almost four years ago. PCGS Set Registry members have found the following set titled Newfoundland Two Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1865-1888) popular, and some have completed the set in uncirculated grades. The other gold set that will further challenge collectors to complete is the Newfoundland Two Dollars, Specimens (1865-1885). This set has two participants to date, and one member whose set name is ppc_limited has completed this set in its entirety. Specimens for this denomination were struck in small quantities, and the highest recorded mintage for any of these years is a mere 10 or less! Stack’s Bowers Galleries sold a PCGS SP64+ 1865 $2 for a little under $60,000 in January of 2024. These gold specimens coins are difficult to find and there are other scarce denominations that are attainable within the series like the 50 cents coin.

The 50 cents denomination was not introduced until 1870, and it is one of the most widely collected within this country’s coinage. This low-relief design makes the surfaces prone to nicks, dings, and wear, which is bad news for coin collectors. However, there are plenty of examples graded by PCGS in AU for the taking. Those who seek uncirculated examples from the Victorian era will quickly learn that may not be possible for key dates such as 1874, 1880, and 1888. A new low-relief design was issued under King Edward VII in 1904, which was not helpful to coin collectors of the present day. The obverse was engraved by G.W. DeSaulles and the reverse was crafted by W. H. J. Blackmore. This new design was slightly higher in relief, but smooth-appearing highpoints were prone to wear.

Collectors seeking a PCGS MS65 and higher for 50 cents will find them easier under King George V’s rule beginning in 1911. The reverse design of this denomination remained the same as Edward VII’s coins, and the obverse coin design became higher in relief. This newly designed reverse was engraved by E.B. MacKennal and PCGS MS66 and MS67 grades are possible to find under King George V’s rule. In 1917, the 50 cents denomination was first struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, which continued until 1919; then the denomination was discontinued. One of the most impressive collections of these coins to view has been assembled by a member who uses the moniker Burns Collection. Our member is one of the most active participants within the country of Canada and this splendid collection of 50 cents can be viewed at the PCGS Set Registry, which is titled Newfoundland Fifty Cents, Circulation Strikes (1904-1919).

The 20 cents denomination struck under Queen Victoria was minted intermittently until the beginning of the 20th century. Only one 20 cents denomination was struck under the rule of King Edward VII in 1904, again in 1912 under King George V, and then this fractional was no longer minted. Interestingly enough, the 25 cents coin was introduced in 1917 and shortly thereafter it was also discontinued after 1919 by the Ottawa Mint. The one cent, 5 cents, and 10 cents have the longest running series under the rule of Queen Victoria, These coins were first minted at the London Mint and then the Heaton Mint sporadically produced these all of them up until 1882. Some key dates exist for all of these denominations prior to the 20th century and most dates are condition sensitive. After the turn of the 20th century, most of these coins can be found in uncirculated grades and they are generally less condition sensitive.

Coins struck under the rule of George VI had a few changes. The one cent denominations that were a little over 25 millimeters in diameter were now a smaller 19 millimeters size, and the weights were reduced as well. Some of these 1940 and 1941 “Re-Engraved Date” one cent coins were minted in small quantities. These coins carry premiums and can be purchased for a few hundred dollars in PCGS MS64 grades. Another variation that exists is the “Prooflike” 5 cents denomination that was minted in 1946 and 1947, which may trade at a premium as well. In 1947, the 1 cent, 5 cents, and the 10 cents were the last coins minted at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. On March 31, 1949, the people of Newfoundland officially voted to become citizens of Canada.

Many collectors find the coins from Newfoundland interesting to collect. Few denominations exist, but low mintages and varieties will challenge collectors who seek to complete sets from the era of Queen Victoria. Coins under the rule of King Edward VII, George V, and George VI will be easier to find. Coinage under these rulers will generally be found in higher grades as well than those issues from the Victorian era. Members that have coins graded by PCGS may consider adding their coins to the PCGS Set Registry, a fun and free collecting platform where collectors can safely display their collections and compete for awards and recognition.

If Leif Erickson hypothetically sailed into the harbor of St. Kitts, Newfoundland, today with his crew he would spot “Jellybean Row” from the water – colorful buildings and structures found all over the capital. Then, if Leif and his crew trekked inland, he would still find the beautiful meadows and forests he first described as Vinland. By sunset, he and his crew would be hungry, they could head back into the town of St. Kitts, and he would treat his men to a nice fish dinner at a restaurant. After Leif finishes his meal, he spots a rectangle that is flashing pictures of men dressed like him. He’s curious, and he gets up to take a closer look. What he sees is a television playing the series Vikings. Erickson slowly smiles wide, radiating across the room to his men, and he knows in his heart that his people were not forgotten.