North York Coin Club Founded 1960 MONTHLY MEETINGS 4TH Tuesday 7:30 P.M. AT Edithvale Community Centre, 7 Edithvale Drive, North York MAIL ADDRESS: NORTH YORK COIN CLUB, P.O.BOX 10005 R.P.O. Yonge & Finch, 5576 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M2N 0B6 Web site: www.northyorkcoinclub.ca

Contact the Club : Executive Committee E-mail: [email protected] President ...... Nick Cowan Director ...... Tony Hine Receptionist ...... Phone: 647-222-9995 1st Vice President ...... Bill O’Brien Director ...... Roger Fox Draw Prizes ...... Bill O’Brien 2nd Vice President...... Shawn Hamilton Director ...... Vince Chiappino Social Convenor...... Bill O’Brien Member : Secretary ...... Tony Hine Junior Director ...... Librarian...... Robert Wilson Program Planning ...... Canadian Numismatic Assocation Treasurer ...... Len Kuenzig Auctioneer ...... Bob Porter Past President ...... Robert Wilson Auction Manager ...... Mark Argentino Ontario Numismatic Association Co-Editors ...... Paul Petch/Tony Hine THE BULLETIN FOR OCTOBER 2008

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NEXT MEETING - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28 Hi again, fellow members: First, let me say that perhaps my com- We start gathering at 7:00 p.m. with meeting start scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ments at the last meeting were not to the lik- For the October meeting Rick Craig will be presenting his extensive talk on Early ing of everyone. These comments were Toronto Exhibition Medals. This is a computer-based presentation that Rick says runs made to my fellow members, that I think for 40 to 45 minutes. Rick has had an interest in collecting and studying this material share the same feelings as I do, about the for many years, so members should look forward to a fine presentation. Club, the Executive and the longevity of our mutually rewarding meetings. [As a Past Our supply of draw prize material is very low and we appreciate all donations. President of the Club, I urge all members to Remember to bring some items for the auction! support Nick as we find our way in chang- ing times. Editor] I am pushing for some positive changes again at the Legion. The room has day, as it was last year. Then a few and improvements over this next year, such again been reserved for the night of less fortunate than us, can also eat a as: December 9th, starting at 18:30 hrs. Christmas dinner as well. A cash bar 1. New, more and better speakers from This year, we will have a Turkey din- will be available, from start to finish. outside the Club. (Everyone with con- ner, but it will be a Buffet, not a served Also, there will be one bottle of wine tacts can help with this one!!) dinner as last year. There will be all the on each table courtesy of your 2. Bigger and better door prizes. Not just usual trimmings and desserts and bev- President. (Cheers and applause, a bag of coins that no one wants, but erages. The cost this year is only $1.00 please). prizes that you would want to keep or higher than last year. Including the cost Now that our website is up and some- share. of the room, the food and gratuity @ what running, if anyone has any ideas, items 3. A more active Auction with more items 15%, our cost is $28.50 per person. I for sale, items wanted, or anything else that of a higher value. I will speak at length will need a $15.00 per person deposit you can think of, let Mark or David know by on this subject at the next meeting. at the October meeting. This will e-mail to the club address only please. 4. Our Executive will now meet every guarantee our minimum attendance of Last but not least, the Elections of a bet- second month, if only to ensure that we 40 persons, to protect our price quote. ter kind are coming in January. Anyone who keep these and future programs on I am looking for someone in the west is on our Executive and is not running again track. end to help with getting Bob Porter is asked to advise the President, we also 5. Our constitution clearly states that we and his bingo machine to the meeting. have openings that need to be filled, please are a not for profit enterprise. There will be some really good Bingo think about filling these. However, with over $5,000.00 in the prizes as well this year. In addition, bank, I think we did well as a non prof- would each person please consider Hoping to see you in a few days, it venture. If we need to draw funds to bringing 4 cans or packages of non Nick subsidize expenses for innovations, perishable food or a $4.00 cash dona- then we will do so. tion for the Food Bank? It will be 6. The Christmas 2008 Dinner Meeting is delivered to the Fire hall the following PAGE 2— OCTOBER 2008 — NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN

MEETING NEWS OF THE SEPTEMBER 2008 MEETING

The 539th meeting of the North York listing in Coming Events). Show tables are Discussion was held about replenishing Coin Club was held on September 23, 2008 available at $50.00 each from Dick Dunn, the stock of draw prize material. Nick at the Edithvale Community Centre, 7 and member Shawn Hamilton offered to split Cowan moved that Bill O’Brien, the door Edithvale Drive in Room 123. President a table with someone willing to pay $25.00 prize co-coordinator be given a budget of Nick Cowan was in the chair and lowered for half a table. $50 to $100 to purchase material for suitable the gavel at 7:32 p.m. to give a two minute Member Henry Nienhuis delivered a prizes. By general agreement the motion warning. He welcomed member Bob club delegates report from the C.N.A. 2008 was carried. Velensky, commenting that this was the first Convention in Ottawa. His report included Nick discussed raising our membership time he could remember Bob being on time. a PowerPoint presentation enriched with his fee by $5 to $15. Ben Boelens said that even At 7:34 p.m. the president called the meet- personal photographs from the convention. $20.00 per year was peanuts, while Avner ing to order and Bob Velensky won the on- Henry moderated the CNA educational pro- Bar-Moshe remarked that the club is avoid- time attendance draw of $4.00, half which he gram on Wednesday July 16th at which ing the cost mail by now distributing the donated back to the club. Fifteen members NYCC member Paul Petch was the kick-off bulletin by Internet. He added that this has and four guests were in attendance, one of speaker. Henry was one of the lucky dele- created an on-going issue of no longer com- the guests being a junior. Door prize dona- gates postmarking his registration form early municating effectively with members not on tions were received from Norman G. Gordon enough to be included in the VIP tour of the the Internet. Nick replied that he would pur- and Bill Cross; the latter delivered by Paul Royal Canadian Mint. The annual meeting sue the issue with the Bulletin Co-editor in Johnson. The president gave an impassioned included the change of name to RCNA, an e-mail before he slept Wednesday opening address, much of it being expansion reflecting the patronage of the Right morning. on his bulletin message from September. Honourable Michaelle Jean, the Governor The club broke for coffee at 8:06p.m. A financial report was presented by the General. Bill O’Brien generously provided refresh- Treasurer, Len Kuenzig. The Treasurer also Paul Johnson mentioned the RCNA’s ments. After the break, Bill O’Brien took noted an amount of $110.00 immediately educational seminar scheduled for Saturday the chair for the second half, as the President payable to the O.N.A. for club insurance. November 8th at Humber College. Brian had pressing personal business. David Bawcutt delivered flyers for Cornwell will speak on grading and counter- Henry Nienhuis’s second presentation O.N.A. 2009 and for the Scarborough Coin feit detection while Susan Maltby will speak covered recent counterfeits available over Club’s November 1 Coin Show (note the on coin preservation. eBay. Many of these items are sold from China as replicas, all shipped from a single Hong Kong address. Purchasers sell some knowingly to unsuspecting dealers or collec- COMING EVENTS FOR FALL 2008 tors, so it is important to know what you are trying to buy. Henry discussed production techniques of counterfeiters and the telltale OCT. 25 - 26, Toronto, Torex - Canada’s Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free admission, marks. Watch for extra surface pits, die clash National Coin Show, Hilton Toronto free draws and refreshments available. marks or even bag marks from the master Airport Hotel, 5875 Airport Road, Tables still available. For more informa- coin from which a cast was made. Details Mississauga Ballroom. Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. tion, contact Dick Dunn at may well be soft rather than crisp. Many to 5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. [email protected] or PO Box 562, Chinese counterfeits are fourrées, plated sil- Admission $6. Official Auctioneer: the Pickering, ON L1V 2R7. ver on base metal cores. Henry’s PowerPoint Canadian Coinoisseur, Michael Walsh. NOV. 9, Windsor, Windsor Coin Club included newspaper stories and lots of exam- For more information, please call 416- Fall Show, Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave. ples. Henry explained his academic pursuit 705-5348. Website: http://www.torex.net. Admission of $1 includes draws for hourly of forgeries and replicas, and the need for OCT. 26, Stratford, Stratford Coin Show, door prizes and a grand prize. Plenty of collectors to educate and inform themselves. Army, Navy, Air Force, 151 Lorne Ave. E. free parking. M. Clarke email: He finished with the old saying, “if it seems Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $2 admis- [email protected], telephone (519) too good to be true, it probably is!” There sion includes draw on gold coin, 16 and 735.0727. was a hearty round of applause from the under free. Buy, sell coins, paper money, NOV. 22, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls members and guests. tokens. Lunch available. For more infor- Coin Club Show, Our Lady of Peace Hall, mation, contact Larry Walker (519) 271- 6944 Stanley Ave. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., There was no auction this evening. Draw 3352, Box 221, Gadshill, ON, N0K IJ0. Admission $2 includes free draw. For prize ticket sales were $33.00. Winners NOV. 1, Scarborough, Scarborough Coin more information, contact Todd Hume, included Avner Bar-Moshe, Davit, Tony Club 12th Annual Coin Show, Cedarbrook (905) 871-2451. Hine, Bob Velensky, Ben Boelens, Jared S. Community Centre, 91 Eastpark Blvd. and Henry Nienhuis. Listings are courtesy of Canadian Coin News Coming Events The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN — OCTOBER 2008 — PAGE 3

On September 29, 2008, Dora de DORA DE PÉDERY-HUNT Pédery-Hunt, an accomplished designer and by Del Newbigging medallic artist, passed away. Dora’s niece Reprinted from behind the MASC July 2002, Issue 3 placed the following announcement in the Dora was my first sculpture teacher. I medals, you will find the story of Dora de Toronto Star: learned much from her and still continue to Pédery-Hunt. The stories they tell are end- My aunt Dora was less than a kilo- be inspired. To her, even clean up was an art. lessly interesting. The illustrations are won- gram at birth. In the age before incuba- She had endless patience. As a student I derful but as a medal maker she excels in the tors, she was lovingly wrapped in cotton looked up from my work to see that I had lettering, an artistic skill that she has wool and placed in a shoebox for warmth become the subject of a miniature portrait. perfected. and safekeeping. Her father baptized her When I thought it was completed she spent as she was not expected to last the night. To hold one of her medals in your hand two more days on it, carefully observing and Nearly 95 years later, we will be lovingly is to experience the joys of this art form. I contemplating each plane and detail. Quality placing her ashes in a shoebox - have listened to her talks on the history of is a characteristic she lives by, in choosing Ferragamo no less - for interment. A cel- medal making. I have learned about the her friends, her food, her music and especial- ebration of her life will take place at a Gonzagas and Pisanello and the medals of ly in the creation of her art. later date. Messages of condolence can be France. She has sculpted and chatted with sent to Ildiko Hencz at 416-967-7424 or In her long life Dora has experienced a many great people and still has a love for the [email protected]. In lieu of flow- great deal. As she says, two world wars, three common folk. Look at her medals and you ers, donations can be sent to the Medallic or four revolutions, Spanish influenza and the will find the great honoured by the world Art Society of Canada (MASC). loss of beloved friends made many changes and you will also find the small honoured by in her life and that of her family. But for her Dora. We are remembering Dora this month everything has a story and I have heard many, with a selection articles, so all members Dora de Pédery-Hunt was born on each with a sense of adventure, sometimes may better appreciate this woman who is November 16, 1913, in Budapest, Hungary. danger and intrigue but most often with lots best known in numismatic circles for her “My cheerful young mother, in the midst of of fun and laughter. work in designing the effigy of the Queen, an elegant party, suddenly felt that some- introduced on the Canadian coinage of To visit her home and studio is a celebra- thing was happening. And it did. Right there, 1990. tion. I always learn something new as I mar- although I was not expected for another cou- vel at the craftsmanship. Especially in the ple of months, I arrived and successfully ruined the whole party. Ashoebox was found and I was placed in it as my father was FROM MICHAEL MESZAROS fetched from his usual Sunday Opera AN AUSTRALIAN MEDALIST WRITING FROM MELBOURNE Evening. He just peered into the box and I was saddened to hear of Dora’s death and camera malfunctioned, film ballooning out of declared that if I survived, my name should was moved to recall my various meetings with it and ruining all her shots. I earned some points be Dorothea, “Gift of Gods.” Since her her. by printing duplicates of my shots and sending arrival, Dora is known as always being on Our first contact was when my father met them to her. I think the last time we met was in time or a little bit early. She was the middle her at the FIDEM congress in Athens in 1966. Weimar, which she declared was her last con- child of three sisters born to a scientist father He came back to Australia with a glowing gress, where I gave a paper straight after her. who knew and understood art well and a description of this Hungarian Canadian medal- Quite recently she sent me a medal as a pres- mother, creative by nature and very interest- list he discovered there. As expatriate ent, I think just for old times sake. I was very ed in art. Hungarians of the same generation who had touched. Talented in many areas, she was almost gone to English speaking countries with little I remember as intelligent, fearless, funny medallic traditions and who had both initiated and forthright, a good psychologist who under- twenty-five years old when she realized she a public interest and culture in medals, they had stood how people functioned and as a result, a was meant to be an artist. After six years at a lot in common, as well as their Hungarian very good artist. The Royal School of Applied Arts, she grad- accents. I will remember her as a friend who did the uated in 1943 with a Master’s Diploma in I subsequently met her at a number of con- art she wanted to do, had good reasons for sculpture with specialized training in medal gresses and as my father’s medallist son I was doing it and was not interested in being led by and coin design. Her student jewellery was immediately adopted as part of the expatriate anybody else or by fashion. I will remember her sold in the shop of Mme. Joli Gabor, moth- Hungarian medallic community. Having grown for the close parallels with my father’s and my er of Zsa Zsa and Eva. up watching my father’s struggles as a sculp- own careers. Her cheerful Hungarianness, In 1945, Dora and her family escaped to tor/medallist in Melbourne, as well as my own which took her to and through a host of life Germany as the Communists took over career, I could relate closely to her tales of events, is something else close to my own Hungary. Dora worked with her father for frustrating, stupid, mean and ignorant clients father. and all the problems that beset medallic artists. four years in Germany on a special lab proj- She made a great contribution to medals in ect for the British Admiralty. She acquired a I remember one moment on a light plane Canada and around the world and will be flight over the Grand Canyon in 1987 when her remembered fondly by many. Continued next page... PAGE 4— OCTOBER 2008 — NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN

BMW car and fortunately there were few medal entirely created and produced in Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, cars on the roads as Dora’s driving talent Canada. In 1963, Dora organized the MacLaren Art Centre and many other gal- was not the best. Canadian contribution to the exhibition of the leries and museums. In 1948 she immigrated alone to Canada. Federation Internationale de la Medaille Dora de Pédery-Hunt has collected many It was not easy to leave her family and home, (FIDEM) at The Hague. As the only honours in Canada. She became an Officer change countries, learn new languages, meet Canadian present, she became the Canadian of the Order of Canada in 1974 and in 1991 new people and adjust to seemingly strange Delegate, a position in which she served for received The Order of Ontario. While hold- customs. She began work as a homemaker, thirty-five years. ing honourary doctorates from York worked in a factory, designed church interi- In her “Swansong” address, presented at University, The University of Waterloo and ors and taught art classes. She was befriend- the FIDEM Congress in Weimar, Germany The University of St. Michael’s College, ed by Frances Loring and Florence Wyle and in 2000, Dora expressed her feelings for the Dora is also a Fellow of the Ontario College they presented her to the art community in International Medal Federation. “FIDEM of Art & Design, Fellow of the American Toronto. Alan Jarvis, director of the National gave me some important presents—the Numismatic Society and a member of the gallery bought the first large sized sculpture, friendship of other medallic artists, the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. which she made in Canada. He encouraged chance to see their work, to learn, to compare In 1998 I asked Dora to recommend a her to apply to the Canada Council for fund- and to compete. With FIDEM, I had the good book that I could use to learn how to create ing. In 1958 she received a grant to study for fortune to travel, to see parts of the world I medals. Dora replied. “I am the book.” For six months in Europe. It was the year of would not otherwise have visited. I still call the past few years I have been reading the Expo in Brussels. At the Hungarian Pavilion this period of my life the most enjoyable book with great delight and I know there are she observed a magnificent display of medals one.” many, many more chapters to study. You by Ferenez Csucs. At last, she had found her Over the years, Dora de Pédery-Hunt has never know what new and exciting things passion. created well over 500 medals. The themes are you will learn when you turn the page. In 1961 the Canada Council medal was varied from everyday happenings, special created. It was the first commissioned cast art events, anniversaries, favourite flowers, fan- tasies, figures and splendid portraits. In her 89th year, Canada’s foremost medallist is still working everyday. Her latest commis- sion will be presented to the Pope whet he visits Toronto for the World Youth Conference in July 2002. In 1990 Dora received a commission from The Royal Canadian Mint to design a new effigy of a slightly older Queen Elizabeth II for all Canadian coins. In fact all of our coins now have Dora’s design for the effigy of Queen Elizabeth H. The monarch’s effigy is to be changed every 20 years in order to accurately depict the Queen. Her first coin commission was received in 1976 from the Royal Canadian Mint. It was a $100 gold coin to commemorate the Olympic Games in Montreal. In 1986, Dora designed the gold $100 “Peace” coin and she created the Canadian Government’s official medal for Expo ’70 in Osaka, Japan. The National Archives in Ottawa has over 500 pieces of Dora’s work. She is also represented in many major European and North American museums including the British Museum, London and the Smith- sonian Institute, Washington and the Berlin National Gallery. In Canada her work may be seen in the National Gallery of Canada, Art

Canada Council Royal Canadian Academy of Arts NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN — OCTOBER 2008 — PAGE 5

DORA DE PÉDERY-HUNT OBITUARY BY SANDRA MARTIN Reprinted from the Globe and Mail October 4, 2008 Sculptor who loved making First World War. The middle of three daugh- sold some drawings to international fashion medals put the Queen on ters born to physicist Attila and Emilia (Festl) magazines and had a bust and a life-sized Canada’s coinage de Pédery, she was so tiny at birth—less than plastic sculpture exhibited by the National a kilogram—that she wasn’t expected to sur- Gallery of Hungary. Trained in Hungary, she escaped vive. She was wrapped in cotton wool, bap- All of that changed in March, 1944, when postwar Europe and flourished in tized by her father and placed in a shoebox. Germany occupied Hungary, imposed martial Toronto under the patronage of That makeshift incubator saw her through the order and soon began mass deportations of sculptors Florence Wylie and night and launched the beginning of a long, Jews to the death camps. The de Péderys, who Frances Loring. She later became adventurous life that transformed her, as she were Catholic, were spared that horror but herself liked to say, into “the mother of the ‘mother of Canadian medals’ they knew that the Germans were losing the Canadian medals.” war and they were afraid of the Soviets march- The name may elude you, but her work is After graduating from the State Lyceum in ing toward them from the east. On Christmas as familiar as the change that jingles in your 1932, she vacillated between her artistic ambi- Eve, 1944, Ms. de Pédery, her parents, two sis- pocket. Dora de Pédery-Hunt was the tions and pleasing her father by becoming a ters and a young niece and nephew fled Hungarian-born artist who sculpted the image scientist. By her mid-20s, she had found her Budapest by foot and then train. Mr. de Pédery of a “mature” Queen Elizabeth that appeared vocation, however, and entered the Royal lugged his daughter’s bronze elephant, consid- on all our coins minted between 1990 and Hungarian School of Applied Art in 1937. ering it an example of her artistic bona fides. 2003. It was the first time a Canadian artist had She earned an honours diploma, followed by The journey to Dresden took them 23 days on ever been given such a commission. a master’s degree in sculpture and design in a barely functioning rail system. Fortuitously, Ms. de Pédery-Hunt also designed and 1943. For her graduation project, she sculpt- the de Péderys left Dresden the day before the moulded hundreds of Allies launched their art medals, beginning intensive bombing sor- with the Canada ties in February, 1945, Council Medal in 1961. heading northwest until Our foremost medallic they reached Hannover, artist, she created com- in what became the memorative pieces for British occupied zone. Canada’s Centennial in Ms. de Pédery and 1967, Expo 70 in her father both found Osaka, the Montreal work at the British Olympics in 1976, the admiralty—he designed CBC’s Reach for the anti-sonar devices from Top program, organiza- 1945 to 1948. During tions such as the this time, the family was Ontario Arts Council befriended by Major S. and the Toronto Zoo, C. Chutter of the and symbolic events Canadian Army, who such as the 300th was serving with the anniversary of the occupation forces. In Hudson’s Bay Co. and 1948, Ms. de Pédery, the portrait medallion of then 35, married a Dr. Norman Bethune Hungarian journalist that prime minister named Béla Hunt (the anglicized form of his Pierre Trudeau presented to Mao Zedong in ed a 30-centimetre solid bronze elephant. name). Coincidentally, Maj. Chutter, whose China in 1973. A founding member of the Life in Hungary carried on in a twitchy family was in Ottawa, offered to sponsor Ms. Medallic Art Society of Canada (MASC), she fashion during the early years of the Second de Pédery as a Canadian immigrant. To was also the first (1963)—and for many years World War. The country had formed an uneasy increase her chances, she posed as an unmar- the only—Canadian delegate to the Fédération alliance with Germany so it wasn’t occupied ried woman and agreed to work as an inden- Internationale de la Médaille d’Art (FIDEM), like many of its neighbours, but many young tured servant for two years in return for her the International Art Medal Federation. men went away to fight. Ms. de Pédery found passage. Dora de Pédery was born in Budapest, work designing clothes and accessories, and Hungary, two months after the start of the did some private teaching. Eventually, she Continued next page... PAGE 6— OCTOBER 2008 — NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN

After disembarking in Montreal, Ms. de encouraged Alan Jarvis to support her work. For the rest of her life, she kept making Pédery told immigration officials that she was “He liked a little plasticine head I had medals—many as commissions, but many as a sculptor and quickly realized she was in made,” Ms. de Pédery-Hunt told Ms. well to commemorate friends, including poet trouble artistically when they asked her to Cameron. “He took it and made six copies. He George Faludi, and family occasions such as spell the word, according to an oft-told fami- bought one for the National Galley, gave me births and weddings. ly tale. She was sent to Toronto, where she one and sold the rest for me.” Later, he helped “Medals are my favourite form of expres- worked as a housekeeper for a family named her get a $700 grant to go to Europe for six sion,” Ms. de Pédery once said. “They are Olson. They turned out to be warm and hos- months. “It got me started.” like short poems.” She expanded on the idea pitable, opening their home for Ms. de That trip coincided with Expo 58 in by describing the lure of making a medal in a Pédery’s parents and her husband-fiancé when Brussels. “She was hungry, so she went to the passage that appeared in Medals, a trilingual they arrived (with her prized bronze elephant) Hungarian pavilion,” said her niece Ildiko book about her work, with photographs by several months later. Shortly thereafter, Ms. de Hencz. “And apart from the food, she saw a Elizabeth Frey. Pédery “remarried” her husband and added his fabulous collection of art medals and she said, “I have to accept the challenges of work- last name to hers. Then she and her reconsti- ‘Aha, that is what I am going to do in ing inside the limits of a small disc and obey- tuted family moved into a small apartment Canada.’” ing the strict rules of the striking, casting and above a store. finishing processes. But the clay is soft and it Although she was the financial mainstay yields pleasantly, almost too easily to the touch for four adults, she also found time to make art, of my fingers. Maybe, after all, these limita- whether it was painting lampshades, repairing tions are necessary. I welcome these odds— and restoring an antique metal rooster, or my medals are the result of a good fight against sketching designs for fountains for landscape them—and at the end at least I can look back architects. “My husband was impossible,” on a bravely fought battle.” she told biographer Elspeth Cameron in Journalist Bronwyn Drainie observed an interview for the book, And Beauty part of that process. It was 1968, two years Answers: The Life of France Loring and after her father, actor and broadcaster John Florence Wyle, complaining that he refused Drainie, had died of cancer at age 50. Ms. de to take on the menial painting jobs that she Pédery-Hunt had been commissioned by accepted with relish. By 1958, her parents ACTRA to create a medal as part of the John had emigrated to Argentina to join one of her Drainie Award established in his memory. two sisters, and Ms. de Pédery-Hunt and her husband had separated, although they didn’t “It happened that she lived right next door divorce until the early 1960s. to us when she was fashioning it, and she brought a working model over one afternoon. Finally, she was free to concentrate on her That was brave of her, because my mother and abiding passion—art—and she had some stal- DORA DE PÉDERY-HUNT all my siblings and I put in our two cents’ wart and influential supporters in sculptors Dora de Pédery-Hunt was born in worth on the length of the nose and the set of Florence Wylie and Frances Loring and their Budapest on Nov. 16, 1913. She died of col- the mouth until we had completely decon- friend Alan Jarvis, who, in 1955, became the orectal cancer in the palliative care unit of structed her work! Dora remained calm and third director of the National Gallery of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto on Sept. smiling, listening to our rather chaotic feed- Canada. The Chutters were probably the 29, 2008. Ms. de Pédery-Hunt, who was 94, is survived by a niece, two nephews and back, and then she went home and created a Ottawa catalyst that brought her together with extended family. Acelebration of her life is perfect image of my dad.” Mr. Jarvis and The Girls, as they were known. planned for the Arts and Letters Club in Besides being an artist, Ms. de Pédery- “We like her very much—and think she will Toronto on what would have been her 95th Hunt was also a passionate advocate for her art be a great acquisition to Canada,” Ms. Loring birthday, Nov. 16, 2008. wrote to Harry McCurry, then director of the form. In this role, she described the “magic” of owning a medal. National Gallery, in August, 1948. They fed Working in an artistic tradition derived her Sunday dinners at their studio in a former from her cultural heritage must have been an “Clasp it in your fist, let your warmth enter church in the Moore Park area of Toronto, enormous incentive, but there were other, the cold metal and then take it to the window. encouraged her artistic aspirations and more practical, reasons to create medals rather Watch it: The light hits some edges, hidden arranged for her to take over A. Y. Jackson’s than work in other sculptural forms. By defi- crevices appear, there are some mounds you room in the Studio Building (an artist’s facil- nition, they are small and so they don’t require had not even seen before. Feel the tension of ity in the Rosedale Valley, designed by Eden a huge financial outlay for materials. And, as the surface, There is life underneath. It is not Smith and financed by Lawren Harris) while her niece pointed out, they can be moulded in a cold piece of metal any more: Trees grow he was away on a sketching trip. They also bed, a key consideration if you are so poor that here, bodies leap high, faces emerge. All of this helped her get a job teaching sculpture begin- pulling the covers up is one of best ways to is brought about by you, and only you can ning in 1950, supported her for election to the stay warm. arrest this magic moment or change it at any Sculpture Society of Canada in 1953, and time with a light flick of your fingers.” NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN — OCTOBER 2008 — PAGE 7

I REMEMBER DORA DE PÉDERY-HUNT BY DEL NEWBIGGING

I met Dora de Pédery-Hunt when I was the this congress she gave her “Swan Song” Art Supervisor for Elementary Schools in speech. Waterloo in the early 1960’s. She was accom- In the late 90’s we discussed the possibil- panying “The Girls” (Frances Loring & ity of forming an art medal Society for Canada. Florence Wyle) to one of their exhibitions at We were both members of BAMS (British the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. The next Art Medal Society) and AMSA (American year Dora had an exhibition of her own work Medallic Sculpture Association). On July 16, and I learned about a course she was giving in 2000 we had a meeting with several sculptors Always a promoter of the art medal Dora the summer. She became my first sculpture at my home in Etobicoke and the Medallic Art continued to create and this year exhibited teacher at Tutzi Sequin’s Muskoka Workshop Society of Canada (MASC) was born. I medals at “The Best of MASC” group show and later at the Doon School of Fine Art with became the first president. Dora, as Canada’s in Kelowna, B.C. At the FIDEM Exhibition in Bess Hamilton. It was then that I learned to be foremost medallist was the spirit behind the Colorado, USAwhere she represented Canada precise and accurate in observing the propor- medal society. She guided the society through in the renowned medallist display, she showed tions of the human figure as well as to clean its infancy by her creative ideas and knowl- 20 medals spanning over forty-five years of up until the studio was spotless every night. edge as well as financially. Some of the found- creativity in Canada. In 1997 I was looking for a small project ing members at the first meeting included to explore as the years were creeping up on Toronto sculptor, Anne Lazare-Mirvish and She took delight in the installation of my me. I asked Dora to recommend a book to Susan Taylor, Royal Canadian Mint artist Alexander Wood Monument, which is situat- ed within walking distance from her home on explain the process of medal making. She In October of 2002 Dora gave the wel- the corner of Church & Alexander Streets. A said, “I am the book” and proceeded to help come address at the inaugural MASC exhibi- lover of history Dora was happy to see this his- me with my first art medal. I had it cast in tion at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. torical figure, a magistrate in York in the early bronze at Artcast in Georgetown. This foundry, It was the largest art medal display ever pre- 1800’s, standing proudly on the street that owned by Eric Knoespel, was the one that sented in Canada and was on view for over six bears his name. Even in her old age it was not Dora used for most of her bronze work in months. This was one of many talks that I too much trouble to attend the digging and Canada. heard her give. They were always interesting, construction of the site for the monument. She Dora had been the Canadian Delegate to humorous and entertaining. She often point- was proud of the accomplishment of her FIDEM (Fédération Internationale de la ed out that she had lived through two world student. Médaille / International Art Medal Society) for wars and several revolutions. With such a long relationship we always 35 years. She had attended many congresses Dora was delighted with the growth of the had much to discuss. Even during my last visit including those at Neuchatel, London, medal society over the past eight years. She at the hospital she was chatty and interested in Budapest, Helsinki, Prague, Paris and Haag. held the position of Honourary Director. what I was creating. It is hard to lose a good Attending the congresses and seeing old MASC has members in Canada, USA, friend but the memories are very fulfilling. I friends from around the world was a great joy Australia, Ireland and England including the consider myself fortunate to remember the for her. In 2000 she asked me to become the British Museum. Co-delegate and together we attended the great Canadian artist, Dora de Pédery-Hunt, FIDEM Congress in Weimar, Germany. At my teacher, my mentor and my friend.

Freedom for Hunary - Sermon on the Mount This effigy of Queen Elizabeth II was pre- Freedom for All pared by Dora de Pédery-Hunt and adopted 1956 - 1966 for Canadian coinage in 1990 PAGE 8— OCTOBER 2008 — NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN

Remembering the 2008 C.N.A. Convention by Henry Nienhuis, NYCC Club Delegate with photos by Henry Nienhuis and Dan Gosling

This year’s C.N.A. convention was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel situated in our As usual, a number of collector clubs From a numbers perspective there were: nations capital, Ottawa Ontario, from July - 241 registrants th th held meetings during the convention. 16 to 20 . Hosted by the City of Ottawa - over 600 room night sold Coin Club (COCC). These club meetings included: - Canadian Paper Money Society - sold-out bourse, 68 tables, 50 dealers Organizing committee chairman, - Canadian Errors & Varieties Assoc and over 500 walk-ins Stephen Woodland, and C.N.A. President - Newfoundland Numismatic - 134 attended the banquet Michael Walsh have both called it a Enthusiasts resounding success, possibly the largest - Medallic Art Society of Canada and most successful in the C.N.A.’s 58 year - Canadian Assoc of Wooden Money history, with proceeds totalling $23,000.00. Collectors And what more fitting a venue than Ottawa - Canadian Tire Coupon Collectors on the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint in 1908!

This year there were many events that would appeal to the numismatist and casu- al collect alike. Highlights such as: - Educational symposium – Thursday - VIP Tours of RCM - Thursday - Royal Canadian Mint reception – Thursday - Numismatic Book Fair – Thursday - Bank of Canada reception – Friday - Meet the Engraver’s event– Friday/Saturday - C.N.A. General Meeting - Saturday - C.N.A. Banquet – Saturday - World Class, Newfoundland, non- competitive exhibit

The C.N.A. executive meeting was held on Wednesday, July 16th. This is a great way to hear and understand the issues con- fronting the executive; I recommend that anyone interested in the organization attend, all members are welcome.

Wednesday evening the C.N.A. and the COCC sponsored a Welcoming Reception. It was a great opportunity to meet new fellow collectors and old friends. NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN — OCTOBER 2008 — PAGE 9

On Thursday, the all day Educational Symposium, sponsored by the C.N.A., included eight speakers presenting on a wide variety of numismatic topics. Following on from last years, the event was a great success.

Time Title Presenter 9:00 - 9:30 Opening Remarks Michael Walsh 9:30 - 10:30 The Canadian Numismatic Bibliography: Paul Petch Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow... 10:30 - 11:30 Early tokens of a Town in East Kootenay Ron Greene 11:30 - 12:30 Collecting Newfoundland Decimals - Phil Carrigan What's Different Here? 12:30 - 1:30 Lunch 1:30 - 2:30 Pritchard & Andrews, Ottawa Token Scott Douglas and Medal Manufacturers & Chris Faulkner 2:30 - 3:30 1859 Wide 9 Over 8 Cents Rob Turner Thursday also included VIP tours of the 3:30 - 4:30 Recent Collector Coin Counterfeits Henry Nienhuis Royal Canadian Mint, for those luck 4:30 - 5:30 Commemorative Silver Dollars Michael Turini enough to have their registration forms in first… a reason for not procrastinating when it comes to next years registration!

Yet another event held on Thursday was the numismatic book fair, a new idea from the organizing committee, gave authors of numismatic books a chance to show their products and perhaps sell them to avid collectors! The Royal Canadian Mint sponsored a reception on Thursday evening. It was another opportunity to meet old friends and perhaps talk to executives of the Royal Mint PAGE 10 — OCTOBER 2008 — NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN

The very successful bourse was opened Friday morning, by Michael Walsh and Ian Bennett CEO of the Mint! Mr. Bennett stayed around to sign authographs, some lucky collectors were able to get him to sign the new book commissioned by the Royal Canadian Mint on their 100th anniversary.

On Friday and Saturday a number of Mint engravers attended the bourse also signing material for collectors. What a great photo-op with Cosme Saffioti, chief engraver at the mint

Stan Witten, Sr. Engraver

Not to be out-done the Bank of Canada sponsored a reception Friday Evening, those attending were allowed to tour the Currency museum. Paul Berry, Chief Curator NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN — OCTOBER 2008 — PAGE 11

Saturday morning was the club delegate’s breakfast; Bill Waychison, C.N.A. Club Services chairman, along with Paul Petch and Dan Gosling. talking about club newsletters and the use of computers to produce eNewsletters. General consensus was that it was absolute- ly critical for a clubs success to issues newsletters in electronic form, even with the caveats of copyright.

Fred Freeman, Paul Johnson, Paul Petch and Bil Waychison at the Delegates’ Breakfast

Saturday was also the day of the C.N.A. General meeting . Among the regular business of the meeting including the presentation of reports, there was a special motion presented. C.N.A. President Michael Walsh asked past president Charles Moore to read the motion changing the name of the association to Royal Canadian Numismatic Association. The motion was passed: 61 for, 7 against Jim Charlton was the (unofficial) honourary seconder of the motion. PAGE 12 — OCTOBER 2008 — NORTH YORK COIN CLUB BULLETIN

The C.N.A. Banquet was Saturday evening, the guest speaker Christina Tessier, Director of the Bytown Museum, gave the keynote banquet speech: The Scoundrels of Ottawa, and she didn’t mean the current politicians inhabiting the environs! Among the many awards presented during the banquet, Michael Walsh introduced the Paul Fiocca award, the first recipient was James E. Charlton. Unfortunately Mr. Charlton was not able to attend the banquet to receive his award.