Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) coupon collecting has been described
as the collecting phenomenon of the 1990's. Why shouldn't it be: you
get them FREE with a cash purchase from CTC !!!! So all those who
moan about the high cost of participating in the numismatic hobby
will have to find a new axe to grind. When you're sick of this new
hobby, you can always cash in your collection for a can of paint or
an electric drill. Issued since 1958, they are without equal in the
world of coupons.
Let's take a look at CTC coupons from the numismatist's point of view, with the idea of legitimising the collecting of these notes within the numismatic fraternity.
CTC cash bonus coupons are as good as cash. My dry cleaner accepts them as payment of your dry cleaning bill. I am told that several bars in Toronto have Canadian Tire nights, when you may use Canadian Tire coupons to buy drinks. The list is endless: hardware stores, other gas retailers, auto parts stores, variety stores, all of them taking CTC coupons in lieu of Bank of Canada notes.
They are printed for the CTC by both the major banknote companies, the Canadian Banknote Company (CBN) and the British American Bank Note Company (BABN). The printers use a high quality banknote paper. This means a high rag quantity in the paper and the use of watermarked paper (the addition of security planchets has been curtailed with the latest issue). They are individually serial numbered, which takes them out of the category of the mass-printed `50 cents off' newsprint coupons. Formerly, a lettered prefix was used, but the latest issues use a ten digit serial number. The notes are coloured differently according to their denominations, much like our own Bank of Canada notes. Replacement notes exist for some series! These are either equipped with an asterisk or a special serial number.
Separate coupons were used for the two different functions served by them. Let's take a look at them.
GAS BAR COUPONS
The gas bar coupons were issued from the gas bars when you paid cash for your gas purchase. All gas bar coupons feature as their obverse at the left hand side a picture of a tire and a dollar coin, both with legs, running toward the right. There are then varying company logos and wordage, according to the particular series of issue. The notes bear the signatures of the current Treasurer and President of the CTC. All the gas bar coupons have been printed by the British American Bank Note Company (except for the 1¢, 2¢, 3¢ and 4¢ issues that the CTC printed themselves, that's another story !) Two reverses have been used: The "original" rural scene that depicts a countryside panorama with oil derricks, a refinery, auto parts factory, a CTC store and all the means of transport (ship, truck, train and plane) and another that shows a map of Canada and a CTC store on the lower part of the coupon. All gas bar coupons must be tendered to the store to be redeemed.
These coupons, which have not been printed since 1990 are on the way OUT! Fewer and fewer gas bars are issuing these coupons. Most now issue store coupons from the gas bar. This makes sense since both types (store and gas bar) are only store redeemable.
STORE COUPONS
The store coupons have featured several obverses but the most prominent is the smiling, frugal Scotsman, Sandy McTire. Sandy apparently evolved from the wily old coot that used to appear on the covers of the Canadian Tire catalogue, but that's another story! The obverses also feature various corporate logos and wordage, in addition to the Treasurer's (and usually the President's) signature. (The latest issue of coupons feature the Treasurer and Chairman of the Board on the 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ and $1, and the Chief Financial Officer and the Chairman of the Board on the $2 coupon.) The store coupons were formerly redeemable at either the gas bars or the stores, but for several issues now have been redeemable only at the stores. I don't know the reason why the CTC is trying to curtail the use of discount coupon redemption at the gas bar, but it may be tied to their plans for keycard sales at the gas bars. The small margin on gasoline may be another reason. The reverses have featured various designs.
There are over 200 different coupons to collect. It may still be possible to build a good collection by shopping at the store, but recent estimates to purchase a collection have started at $5000 for coupons in crisp uncirculated. But try to get a collector to part with it!!!
What are CTC coupons worth?
At a recent auction (1995) at the Waterloo Coin Society, someone consigned a bundle of CTC coupons. They were sealed in such a way that the auctioneer could not assess them (DAMN!). It was noted by the consignor, who was not present at the meeting, that the bundle contained $62 face value. Bidding ended at $67.50.
Put in perspective: if a Canadian $1 is worth 74 cents U.S., a $1 CTC coupon is worth 80.5 cents U.S. Chances are that due to the instability due to Quebec nationalism and problems of NAFTA, CTC coupons are a more stable currency than the Canadian dollar!
FIRST CASH BONUS COUPONS
I would like to begin our exploration of the CTC coupons by looking at what is popularly regarded as the first cash bonus coupon issue, known to many of us as the `Rural Scene' issue. These are gas bar coupons that feature the Tire and Dollar on the obverse. The set consists of:
5 cent in green with prefix A
10 cent in red with prefix B
25 cent in burgundy with prefix C
50 cent in orange with prefix D
$1 in brown with prefix E
Across the front of the note is Canadian Tire Corporation Limited with a company seal that says `tested proven products' around a maple leaf bearing ` cTc '. The single serial number is printed in red over this seal. The slogan `WE MAKE YOUR DOLLARS GO FARTHER' is above the signature panel. The signatures are divided by the triangular cTc symbol and are a conversation piece in themselves. The story goes that when the time came to obtain the signatures for the finished notes, the Treasurer, Fred Sasaki, was away. One of the printers forged the signature, misspelling it `SASKI'! The other signature represents A.J.Billes who at that time was President. A.J.Billes succeeded his older brother J.W. as President of the CTC upon J.W.'s death in 1956. It is reported that the signature of A.J.'s on the note is not his either! These coupons were the work of the BABN Company. The denominations are printed black in square white boxes in the corners of the coupon.
The reverse of the note is perhaps one of the prettiest of the CTC coupons and is reminiscent of the reverses of the first Bank of Canada issues of Queen Elizabeth. It depicts a wheat field in the foreground with oil derricks to the rear left and to the right, a CTC store. Behind the store is a rising sun with the `TESTED PROVEN' logo across it. The denominations are in the four corners.
The coupons were the work of the British American Bank Note Company. All the `Rural Scene' coupons are scarce in mint, particularly the fifty cent note in orange. One must remember that since gas was much cheaper in those days, your discount wasn't a large sum, so most popular were the 5, 10 and 25 cent notes.
That's our look at the first issue of gas bar coupons.
In this article we will look at the first issue of Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) store coupons. The fantastic success of the gas bar coupons prompted the CTC to extend the use of `customer profit sharing bonus' coupons to store customers. Unlike the gas bar coupons, which could only be redeemed for merchandise at the store, the store coupons could be used at either the store or gas bar. Let's take an in depth look at the popular `Sandy Mctire' series.
The store coupons have been said to have started in 1961. As with all
the early issues, no dates appear to clue us in as to the real
introductory year, so we must rely on people's recollections for this
information. I have one main problem with this suggested introductory
date. The gas bar coupons that featured the `rural scene' reverse had
their start in 1958, three years previous. At that time, the
signature of the Treasurer, Fred Sasaki, was misspelt on the coupons
as `Saski'. One would think that in three years time a
correction would have been made. But once again the `Saski'
spelling persisted! Could these coupons been printed earlier than
1961? Only when more information becomes available will the real
answers become known.
This series was issued in six denominations, each with it's own base
colour and prefix letters. The set consists of:
3¢ in blue with prefix A
5¢ in green with prefixes B and H
10¢ in red with prefixes C and L
25¢ in violet with prefix D
50¢ in brown with prefix E
$1 in grey with prefix F
The coupons measure 5 x 2 5/8 inches, being 10% longer than the gas bar coupons, but the same height. As with all single prefix letter coupons, they are printed by the British American Bank Note Company. All serial numbers appear on the reverse of store coupons. Banknote paper with security planchets was used for these coupons.
THE OBVERSE
The store coupons introduce to us `Sandy McTire', that mythical Scotsman that some have said represents frugality and sense of good value. Sandy is also said to have been derived from the wily old coot that appeared on the cover of the CTC catalogues over the years. He would always be represented as winning the attention of a young girl, over the persistence of younger men. He appears to have undergone a change in profile once on the coupon. Now sporting a tam and scarf, the smiling face and upturned moustache depict a man in his mid to late sixties.
Sandy's portrait appears on the left of the coupons facing right. Toward centre is CTC triangle topped by a maple leaf with `cTc', overprinted with `CANADIAN TIRE CORP'N LTD.' Beneath that are the statements `redeemable in merchandise at Canadian Tire Store or Gas Bar' and the french translation. Below that are the signatures of the Treasurer, Fred Sasaki and the President, Alfred Billes. The background pattern of the note is made up of a pattern of the small maple leaf and `cTc' symbol joined by small triangles. The denominations appear in dark boxes at each corner with the number being made up of the background pattern. Around the outsides of the coupons are the phrases `cash bonus', `bon d'achat', `save safely', `economie! securite!' and along the bottom, `customer profit sharing bonus'.
THE REVERSE
The reverse of this issue is a relatively simple design that features the `TESTED PROVEN PRODUCTS' seal that appears on the obverse of the first gas bar coupons. On either side is the denomination, and in the background are three merging, intricate anti-forgery designs. Above the denominations are the serial numbers: a single prefix followed by seven digits, in red ink. In the border at top we read `CASH BONUS' and at the bottom `REDEEMABLE FOR MERCHANDISE AT GASOLINE BAR OR STORE'. At the very bottom of the coupon is printed `British American Bank Note Company Ottawa Canada'.
This series of coupon ran, with misspelt signature and all, for over
10 years. You can still find nice coupons in circulation, though most
that you find will be showing their age. I suggest you grab them as
they become available and replace your coupons with better looking
ones as you get them. As with all the CTC coupons, they'll always be
worth face value back at the store!
The "Home Made" Issue
The "Home Made" issue refers to a series of coupons that were apparently produced within the production facilities of the Canadian Tire Corporation itself. This has not been confirmed, but, it is reasonable to assume that since the corporation has fairly advanced printing facilities, it would be within their means to produce these coupons themselves, cheaper than the British American Banknote Company. I don't know what it costs CTC for BABN to print coupons, but we must assume that they're not cheap. It has been suggested that they were issued during 1964. I have no problem with this suggested date, as the signatures appear spelt correctly (in contrast to the first BABN issued coupons!!). It would be truly embarrassing if the Corporation spelt their own chiefs' names wrong!
The series of coupons lasted for some time, but, for whatever reason, production was ceased by CTC for these low value notes. Probably as the price of gas went up and people filled with more gas, the need for the small values was less. Perhaps, too, their lack of durability had something to do with it.
Let's take a look at the differences between these home made gas bar coupons and the ones produced for CTC by the BABN Co.
All of the coupons have denominations below 5¢. They were produced in 1¢, 2¢, 3¢ and 4¢ denominations. All of these coupons lack the printers name on the coupons. In fact, if one looks very closely at the design work in the security frame at the bottom of these coupons, you will see where there has been some patch work done to remove the name of the banknote printer and patch in the resulting hole with more of the border design! In contrast to the background used by the BABN Co. which featured an interlocking series of maple leaves bearing the "cTc" logo and small triangles, these issues use a system of larger upright maple leaves with the CTC logo inside. The denominations, which appear in the four corners of the front of the coupons, are composed of black boxes with the background making the numeral. All other gas bar issues use a light box and dark numerals.
On the reverse, the home made issues feature the same map of Canada and CTC store as the current gas bar issues, but the name Mor-power has been removed from the gas bar depicted on some of the issues. Certain of the 3¢ coupons have the name on the sign, while others do not. We hope that readers will check their hoard of the home made issue and report to us the prevalence of this. In place of the radiating lines that emanate from the map of Canada on the BABN issues, we see the same background as the obverse (large maple leaves) and the denominations in black boxes in the corners.
The serial numbers are unsteady, in that they at times appear as 3, 4 and 5 digit numbers and in one case, do not appear at all on a 3¢ issue! Only the 1¢ issues bear the phrase "Cash Bonus", something that no other gas bar coupons bear, but all store coupons have.
Lastly, the quality of paper used for the production of these coupons is not as good as any of the other issues. It lacks the higher rag content and the security planchets that are the mark of better quality banknote paper.
The best way to separate this series is by the colour of serial numbering used. While it would be too confusing to the reader to describe the series in terms of the number of digits in the serial number, it is easy to break down these series by the colour and number of serial numbers per note.
We are looking at four basic groups: one with no serial number, one with a single black serial number, one with a single red serial number and another with two red serial numbers.
Since the series share common obverses and reverses we might begin our discussion with those features.
The obverses feature the familiar "Tire and Dollar" logo to the left of the coupon and the logo "WE MAKE YOUR DOLLARS GO FARTHER" below. Below that is "Redeemable in merchandise at Canadian Tire Stores" and its French translation. The "TESTED PROVEN PRODUCTS" seal that appeared on the rural scene gas bar issue has been replaced with the triangle logo with the cTc maple leaf at top. Superimposed over this logo is "Canadian Tire Corporation Limited" in hollow letters. Below this we find our serial number, (if it appears).
All known coupons, up until a few months ago, bore the signatures of F. Sasaki, Treasurer and A.Billes, President above the border at the bottom of the coupon. A woman in Quebec recently found a coupon with the signatures of Sasaki and Muncaster! That has been the only one found so far, so keep your eyes peeled for one like that!
In the left border design is written "save safely" and on the right "economie! securite!". This is a change from the rural scene coupons which used the french slogan "epargnes assures" in the right border. That slogan was never used after the rural scene issue.
The reverses are similar in most ways to the reverses that are used today. They feature a map of Canada printed within a semi-circle with a CTC store and Mor Power bas bar below. On these coupons, however, the background design is the upright maple leaves used on the front and the denominations appear, as on the front, in black boxes with the background making up the numeral. In the banknote company issues the denominations are in black. All coupons use the slogan "customer profit sharing bonus" in the border at bottom. Only the 1¢ coupons have "cash bonus" in the top border.
Here are the known series with their serial numbers:
No Serial Number
3¢ 34% of these lack "Mor-Power"
66% have "Mor-Power"
Single Red Serial Number
1¢ with prefixes A, and A No.
2¢ with prefixes B and Y
3¢ with prefixes C and X,in the "C", 1\3 lack Mor-Power,2\3 have
it
4¢ with prefixes W and Y
Single Black Serial Number
1¢ prefix E
2¢ prefix E and F
3¢ prefixes X and Y, none seen with "Mor-Power"
Two Red Serial Numbers
1¢ prefix Z
2¢ prefix Y
3¢ prefixes X and Z
4¢ prefix W
You have 21 different coupons to collect with different prefixes. If
you also add in the possibility of collecting by the different
numbers of digits, you've got lots of sleuthing to do. In particular,
the 1¢, 2¢ and 4¢ coupons will be tough to find as
they are no longer issued by any of the gas bars. You may find a
neighbour that is ashamed to redeem these low valued coupons and
would be glad to unload them on you! Most collectors will be content
to have a type set of these coupons. Or will you?
