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Manon Rhéaume, a Canadian, is widely known as the first lady of hockey.  Her hockey career was notable due to her talent and the many times that she was the first female to play in many different men's hockey leagues.

Manon Rhéaume, born on February 24th, 1972, began her hockey career playing for the Sherbrooke Jofa-Titan squad in the League Régionale du Hockey as Féminin in Quebec, Canada.

For more information on this incredible hockey player, please read my blog.

Albert Einstein knew the value of reading.  He believed that reading is essential for children to become successful in school and in their journey through life. 

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.  If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."  This quote is attributed to Albert Einstein.

The Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, Ontario produces Canada's circulation coins and collector coins. Several coins come in gold, silver, palladium and platinum. 

For some history highlights, read my blog on the Royal Canadian Mint.

The history of "Royal Albert China" began in 1896 when Thomas Clark Wild bought a pottery in Longton, Stoke on Trent, England, called Albert Works, which had been named the year before in honor of the birth of Prince Albert.

After producing several commemorative bone-china pieces for Queen Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee, a Royal Warrant was earned in 1904. A Royal Warrant is issued by the sovereign, authorizing a company to display the royal arms, which indicates that goods and services are supplied to the sovereign or a member of the royal family. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the issuer of the Royal Warrant, thus lending a great deal of prestige to the supplier.

"Antique", "Vintage" or "Retro".  How to know the difference!

What is Antique?

The definition of an antique is "a relic or object of ancient times".  Most authorities of antiques consider an antique to be an object that is at least 100 years old.  A truly valuable antique would have provenance which is a record of ownership of the object, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.  The condition of the object and, if determined to be rare,  also increases the value. 

The Bumble Bee and the Bloom $50 silver coin demonstrates the Canadian Mint's innovation in interactive coins with moving elements. It is a five ounce 99.99% pure silver coin and has a low mintage of 1200.

The coin has a background of silver engraved roses but the large gold plated flower that is raised from the center along with the yellow gold bee that rotates when the coin is titled is what makes this coin so spectacular.

The Kauhava (named for his Iisakki Järvenpää's hometown) Horsehead puukko with its varnished birch bark handle is a very popular choice among collectors.

The pictured Iisakki Järvenpää combination set has the galalite handle.

Marvel Comics was founded by pulp-magazine publisher Martin Goodman in 1939 under the umbrella name Timely Comics.

The first publication was Marvel Comics #1 in October 1939 and featured the Human Torch and the  mutant anti-hero Namor the Sub-Mariner.  This edition proved to be a blockbuster for Timely Comics.

A "piedfort "coin is an unusually thick coin.  The weight and thickness of piedfort coins is twice that of other coins of the same diameter and pattern. A "piedfort" coin can be struck in gold, silver or other metals.

For more information on "piedforts" coins, check out my blog.