Dr. H. Don Allen, Prolific Contributor to Numismatics for 7 decades, dies at 89

Dr. Harold Don Allen (July 2, 1931 - July 11, 2020) who taught generations of mathstudents and future teachers, instilled a sense of wonder in bright young peopleabout the beauty of numbers and cryptograms and brought a story-teller's passion tonumismatic history and collecting, from banknotes to milk tokens, passed awayquietly on in Brossard, Quebec, family at his side.

Don Allen was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, He earned his BSc in Mathematics andPhysics with Distinction in 1952 from McGill University and Masters degrees from theUniversity of Santa Clara in 1966 and Rutgers University in 1968. His doctorate inmathematics education, a source of enormous pride for him throughout his life, wasconferred on him by Rutgers in 1977.

He taught professionally for 51 years, in Montreal, Chibougamau and Arvida in Quebec, atthe Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro, Nova Scotia from 1969 to 1987 and in theCanadian Arctic at the Nunavut Teacher Education Program in the mid-90s.

Allen acquired an early numismatic fascination with world paper money, began writingpublished articles in the late 1950s and was an active member of numismatic societies inCanada, the US and abroad for more than 70 years. He was well ahead of his time in talkingabout new collecting areas such as Canadian milk tokens, rationing and other "Cinderella"means of exchange, including his widely-cited 2006 article in The Numismatist about theorigins of Canadian Tire scrip "money".

He was a Lifetime or Honorary member of the American Numismatic Association, Royal Canadian Numismatic Association, Canadian Paper Money Society, International BanknoteSociety and Society of Paper Money Collectors, a fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society, apast president of the Montreal Coin Club and a member of many other clubs worldwide.

Recipient of the Ferguson gold medal, the highest award in Canadian numismatics, Allen was a prolific writer of hundreds of articles for the world's leading numismatic journalsand newspapers, including The Numismatist, Coin World, the Canadian Numismatic Journal,the International Banknote Society Journal and the Farebox.

Additionally, was an innovator in bringing the hobby to a wider audience though the use oftelevision and radio. He and the Truro Coin Club (today known as the Central Nova ScotiaCoin Club) had a regular TV program on Eastern Cablevision that was broadcast throughoutcentral Nova Scotia. This initiative was recognised by the ANA in the 1970 National CoinWeek competition, and reported by the New York Times, with Allen's entry being the onlyaward granted that year outside the United States.

In 2001, Allen wrote the authorised biography of a renowned Canadian numismatist, JimCharlton. J.E. Charlton: Coinman to Canadians was prepared from personalcorrespondence and conversations between the author and "Mr. Coin".

Never having learned to drive a car, Allen travelled by bus and train, visiting his children asthey moved away from home, across Canada and to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Heproudly claimed to have visited all 48 contiguous American states plus Hawaii, attending,speaking, exhibiting and judging at ANA and other numismatic and educational conventionsand gatherings.

Don and Frances Allen were married for nearly 63 years. Fran passed on in April, 2018.

Don and team introducing the metric system to Nova Scotia (with daughter Laura) c. 1973

When the metric system was being introduced in Canada during the early 1970s, Allen co-authored a series of related textbooks and used his background in broadcasting for public education of the merits of the metric system. Fran and their children had little choice but to adopt the new system when Fahrenheit and yardsticks in their home were promptly and permanently replaced with Celsius and metre sticks.

Dr. H. Don Allen will be laid to rest in his crimson doctoral robes at a private ceremony atMount Royal Cemetery at the Allen family monument. He is survived by his four childrenNigel, Laura (Ashton), Elizabeth (Seamone) and Rosalie (Jarvis) and their families. Friends and associates are invited to view his memorial site here and leave messages or numismaticmemories or photos for the family.

To read the complete obituary, or leave condolences and memories in the Guestbook, see:
HAROLD DON ALLENJuly 2, 1931 - July 11, 2020(https://mountroyalcem.permavita.com/site/HaroldDonAllen.html)

Bob Graham writes:

Canadian Numismatic Bibliography editor Darryl Atchison writes:

Ron Greene writes:

John Regitko writes:

Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Executive Secretary Paul Johnson writes:

For further reading, see:
H. Don Allen references on the Newman Numismatic Portal(https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/searchwithterms?searchterm=H.%20Don%20Allen)
Canadian Tire money(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tire_money)
Winners of Coin Week Announced(https://www.nytimes.com/1970/07/26/archives/coins-winners-of-coin-week-announced.html)