Hundreds of collectors attended the bi-annual Paris Coin Show at the Paris Fairgrounds on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Formerly known as the Southwestern Ontario Numismatics (SWON) show, the Paris Coin Show is a one-day event that has been running since the 1990’s and is always held on the first weekend of February, and again on the second weekend of August.
Organizer Jared Stapleton, who owns Metro Coin and Banknote and also runs the Toronto Coin Expo, acquired the rights to the SWON show from Ted Bailey back in 2017, and has continued to keep the tradition alive since then.
“I think the fact that it’s such a long-running show that was started by a resident of Paris, is one of the things that sets this show apart,” said Stapleton. “I’m honoured that Ted passed it on to me and that I’m able to run it for him because it’s a tradition I wanted to see keep going.”
With nearly 60 vendors in attendance, both amateur and serious coin collectors alike spent their time perusing through thousands of items to buy, sell or trade.
From silver bars to special edition and commemorative coins, historical banknotes, books, war medals, and more, there was no shortage of items to browse, and guests of all ages came prepared with lists in hand to search for items to add to their collections, often spending extended time with a particular vendor.
“There’s everything here from ancient coins all the way up to modern day pieces, there’s banknotes and paper money, and then tokens and medals as well,” said Stapleton. “We have some metal detector people here who are new to the show too, so that’s neat. The floor is just buzzing. A big topic right now is gold and silver because they’re on fire, so we have a lot of people who are interested in gold and silver items coming in to check that out too.”
Coin collecting, also known as numismatics, is frequently referred to as one of the oldest hobbies in the world, often drawing people for a wide range of reasons.
One vendor, who asked that his name not be used, said that while he doesn’t personally collect, he finds that many people are often attracted to monetary and historical aspects of the hobby.
“It’s often a combination of money and history that pulls people in. There’s also rarity to collecting, and you can find just about anything the further down the rabbit hole you go,” he said. “There’s people here who are experts in ancient coins, people that are experts in certain numismatic medals and in military history, and so in any one of those side paths, you can go as deep as you want to go. You can spend an entire life interested in one thing and still not see everything so it makes it interesting. It’s like an Antiques Roadshow… you never know what’s going to show up or what you might find, but you get to see all kinds of wonderful stuff.”
For some collectors, it’s the design and the history behind the items that appeals to the most, while for others it’s the thrill of the hunt.
“It’s being on the hunt for something unique, something you need for your collection; that’s what often draws people to this hobby,” said Stapleton, with a chuckle. “Collectors are never done, they’re always on the hunt for something new and there’s a real thrill when you find it.”
Vendor Scott Nagel said that while he collects and sells all sorts of coins and banknotes, he personally enjoys searching for Coca-Cola coins, while Stapleton himself is especially interested in hunting for banknotes with colourful artwork.
By the end of the day, over 500 people had been in and out of the show, many of whom walked away pleased with what they found.
“I think everyone’s pretty happy, like I said, there’s a real buzz in the air,” said Stapleton. “It’s always awesome to be here in Paris, not just because it’s such a central spot for Southern Ontario and we’re getting people coming in as far as Windsor, Toronto, London and all the surrounding areas, but because we get to see all these people thriving in their hobby.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
