For War of 1812 history buffs, picking up commemorative coins, stamps and other trinkets that commemorate the bicentennial will be a mere matter of marching to the post office.

The war started in June 1812, but now the calendar reads 2012, companies like the Royal Canadian Mint and Canada Post are rolling out their commemorative products.

The mint is the latest to get in on the action. Last week it released new silver dollar depicting three types of combatants credited with fending off the American invasion of Canada — a British redcoat, a Canadian infantryman and a native warrior.

The coin sells for $59.95 and 40,000 have been produced.

“I would like to see it cheaper, but I guess it’s not that bad considering it’s 99.99% pure silver,” said Smokey Milojevic, a lifelong member of the Niagara Falls Coin Club.

The 1812 coin is the first collector coin of the year to be issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. They can be ordered by contacting the mint at 1-800-267-1871 or on the Internet at www.mint.ca. A number of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets will have them.

The coin, which was designed by military artist Ardell Bourgeois, features a British sergeant, a Voltigeur (a member of a regiment of French-Canadian soldiers), and an Iroquois warrior united in the defence of their border.

“This will end up in my collection somewhere,” said Milojevic, who likes to collect coins with a Niagara connection. One piece in his collection is a 1914 coin issued by the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1814 Battle of Lundy’s Lane.

Milojevic said people buy coins for different reasons. Some just want them for their collection, while others buy them as an investment.

The price of silver can go up or down depending on the market, so if someone is purchasing coins as an investment, they need to know when to buy to get the best return.

The Ontario government has issued commemorative licence plates with the War of 1812 logo. Niagara Region Chairman Gary Burroughs recently bought one for $170. They are only available from the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, one of the organizations promoting 1812 events in Niagara. The cost of the plates includes a $62 contribution to 1812 projects in Niagara.

“The licence plates have increased awareness and when people see them they inquire where they can get them,” said Brian Merrett, chief executive officer of the bicentennial legacy council.

“People can go on our website, Discover 1812, and we offer the licence plate, which has been around for a while, but we relaunched it with Gary on his birthday, and we’ve had a tremendous increase in orders. We also offer things like T-shirts or mugs,” Merrett said.

The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council was created in August of 2007, as a cross-border not-for-profit organization to increase public awareness and participation in the bicentennial.

Merrett said the group is also working with the Medallic Art Society of Canada and they are looking for the best submission of a commemorative medal design that depicts the War of 1812.

The medal would be given to visiting dignitaries, politicians, sponsors and notable volunteers during the three years of celebrations.

Stamp collectors won’t be left out. Canada Post is marking the historic occasion with the release of two commemorative stamps, one will pay tribute to First Nations hero Chief Tecumseh, and the other will honour Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock. Both leaders played an integral part in the War of 1812.

Last year, residents of Tecumseh, near Windsor, began a letter-writing campaign pushing to get the chief on a stamp.

Canada Post looked at many topics, battles and moments in history, but in the end the decision was made to highlight two key heroes — Chief Tecumseh and General Brock — said Anik Losier, director of media relations for Canada Post.

The stamps are expected to be available in early March.

Chief Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of the Thames at Chatham, while leading his warriors against invading Americans.

General Brock was killed by a sharpshooter at the Battle of Queenston Heights on Oct. 13, 1812.

Brock’s Monument, which was completed in 1856, is located in Queenston.

Jim Hill, superintendent of heritage for the Niagara Parks Commission, said a number of books have been recently written or reprinted on the War of 1812. He expects a few more in the near future.

“Many of those items can be found at some of the shops at the historic sites,” said Hill. “Things are also starting to come out in the United States. Maryland seems to be the state that is very keen on developing merchandise that people can have as a souvenir of the bicentennial,” Hill said.

In the next year or two, Hill expects to see articles from scholars and authors who might have a different interpretation of the War of 1812, some personalities, and even some more documentaries.

The Treaty of Ghent, which was signed in Belgium on Dec. 24, 1814, between Britain and America, officially ended the War of 1812.

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