CURRENT BID
50.00CAD+ applicable fees & taxes.
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID![[?]](https://auctions.gbellauctions.com/graphics/icons/help.png)
Live Online Auction Starts In
2026 Apr 30 @ 17:30 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Buyer’s Premiums will be added on all items as per the Terms & Conditions of the sale. Invoices will be emailed out after all sessions of the Toronto Coin Expo Spring Sale have concluded.
Includes: Chinese tea bricks, made of compressed tea leaves, were a widespread form of currency, trade, and payment in China, Tibet, Mongolia, Siberia, and Central Asia from the 9th to the 20th century. These durable, portable blocks were used for major transactions, such as buying horses or paying taxes, particularly where metal coins were scarce. Aztec "spade" money, commonly referred to as axe-monies or tajaderos were thin, U-shaped copper blades used as a standardized currency in Central America. These cast bronze tools acted as a high-value medium of exchange, often valued at 8,000 cacao seeds. Hand-forged, square, and rectangular iron nails were used as a form of currency or small change in early colonial America and parts of the British Empire. Because nails were difficult to produce, precious in early construction, and essential for building, they often served as a substitute for cash. Lot of 2 x Kissi penny, also seen transcribed as kissy or kisi penny or known as guenze, koli, and kilindi, was an iron currency made in Sierra Leone that circulated widely in the immediate vicinity of its production among Gbandi (Bandi), Gola, Kissi, Kpelle, Loma, Mandinka and Mende and other people of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Conakry. Africa manilla bracelets are horseshoe-shaped, open-ended currency items made of copper, bronze, or brass, used in West Africa from the 15th to early 20th century. Primarily used for trading—including in the slave and palm oil trades—they served as a symbol of wealth, status, and as marriage dowries. Finally, who remembers the iconic Club Med bar beads? iconic bar beads were used as currency within the resort.
Auction Location:
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street (1 street north of Bloor), Toronto, Ontario, M4W 2G8, Canada
Previewing Details:
Location:
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street (1 street north of Bloor)
Toronto, ON
M4W 2G8
Lot viewing available online, or in-person from 10:00am-4:30pm
HST of 13% will be applied to any purchaser from ON; HST of 14% will be applied to any purchaser from PE; HST of 15% will be applied to any purchaser from NS, NB, NL, PE; All other provinces in Canada 5% will be applied. No tax is charged on out of Country purchases.
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| HST |
13% |
HST |
| GST |
5% |
GST |
| HST |
14% |
HST |
| HST |
15% |
HST |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Lot pick-up/Shipping Details: Lots will be available for pickup at the Toronto Coin Expo on Friday & Saturday. All lots not picked up will be shipped at the bidders expense. We charge actual shipping costs (minimum $15) plus $5 per package for packing and processing the order. Insurance is $5 per thousand.
Payment Details:
Payment Details: Cheques must clear before shipping; money orders and certified cheques will be verified and shipped within 48 hours of receipt. eTransfer, or Direct deposit into our TD Canada Trust account will result in immediate shipping. Credit Card and Paypal payments are accepted at a 4% premium to cover fees.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- COD (cash on delivery)
- PayPal
- See Payment Details
- Wire Transfer
- Multiple Credit Cards
Terms and Conditions at Geoffrey Bell Auctions
Credit and Deposits: All bidders must be approved. Those who do not have an established relationship with Geoffrey Bell Auctions must provide an approved reference or a credit guarantee prior to the sale.
Buyer’s Premiums: A buyer’s premium of 20% will be added to the hammer price. Appropriate GST or HST will be added for lots delivered in Canada. No taxes will be added if shipped out of the country. US Funds accepted at 2% under the posted rate on xe.com on the day of the auction. All accounts not paid within 30 days will result in an interest charge of 2% per month calculated from May 1st, 2026.
Auction Conduct: All our starting bids will be opened at approximately 10% above the second highest mail or computer bid. If there are no mail bids, auctioneer will start the bids at the reserve price, or half of the low estimate, or where possible, call for an opening bid. Advances are at the discretion of the auctioneer. In the event there are identical bids, earliest bid and floor bids will take priority. We reserve the right to withdraw any lot prior to the sale. Lots are sold to the highest bidder at an average rate of 150 lots per hour.
Bidding Procedures: Bids may be made in advance of the auction, by phone, person, fax 506-634-1026, email info@gbellauctions.com or mail. Live telephone bids are accepted through an approved agent provided by Geoffrey Bell Auctions at 506-333-7778. ALL Mail, fax and email bids must arrive to our office no later than May 1st, 2026 at 12 noon EDT. The auction will be conducted on iCollector.com and all mail bids will be entered online. Geoffrey Bell Auctions reserves the right to refuse bids deemed not in good faith. We are not responsible for bidder errors so please check your bids carefully. Bidding increments are at the discretion of the auctioneer, the scale below must be followed, any uneven bids may not be accepted:
0 – 250 10
250 – 1,000 25
1,000 – 2,000 50
2,000 – 5,000 100
5,000 – 10,000 250
10,000 –20,000 500
20,000+ 1000
Grading Standards and Description: The Cataloguers have taken every reasonable measure to ensure that all the lots are as described by Geoffrey Bell Auctions. Many of the lots are third party graded by PCGS, BCS, PMG, ICCS, NGC, CCCS - We feel these are the most recognized grading companies in the industry.
Return Policies: Returns will be accepted by absentee bidders for lots that have been misattributed or incorrectly catalogued. We guarantee that all items are genuine and we will refund anything that has been misrepresented by the cataloguers. Certified grading concerns are to be dealt with through the certified grading company, not Geoffrey Bell Auctions. No returns will be accepted on graded material. All floor sales are final, including those who choose to use our agent. Absolutely no returns will be accepted after 45 days as consignors are then paid in full.
Lot pick-up/Shipping Details: Lots will be available for pickup at the Toronto Coin Expo on Friday & Saturday. All lots not picked up will be shipped at the bidders expense. We charge actual shipping costs (minimum $15) plus $5 per package for packing and processing the order. Insurance is $5 per thousand.
Payment Details: Cheques must clear before shipping; money orders and certified cheques will be verified and shipped within 48 hours of receipt. eTransfer, or Direct deposit into our TD Canada Trust account will result in immediate shipping. Credit Card and Paypal payments are accepted at a 4% premium to cover fees.
Catalogue Values: All values are listed in Canadian Funds.
Listing of Abbreviations and References Used: available at www.gbellauctions.com