F737.7/ COINS .-/•^ STRUCK IN CANADA nPRE^v^lOXJS 1840 -.;■-* i->- C C>J? COINS STRUCK IN CANADA I^IiE^SriOXJS 1840 COINS STRUCK IN CANADA FRE'VTOXJS 1840 RE.\b HEME THE mti INTEII^'ATIONAI, DE !iyilSll.\TH!lE BY M. ROPERT WALLACE M' LACHlAN • « MKMHm-. \^^0^ IK FI'KA.NOKK .)l' LA StViKI.-; hOVAI.K l)i- Nt;\t|VM O H,-l I itK lU'I Myl'K BKUXKLLES J. GOEMAERE, IMPKIMEUK DU ROl ''Ii_uc de la Limite. 31 i8q2 ... . •• •••••.. t • • • * •• • ,• * * •• • • • • * • • * r^'^i!?^*/-*^**'^'''*^^*'^'^''"*^-'^^-''^'*--'^^ •> 4 ^.0y■^-J^J^Qf5J1g^^.;^.■..;|;,-^./.v^_.,.^...^^ COINS sti^xjck: iisr c.A.3sr.A.iD.A. l»KKVIOtJS TO l» lO oi^ONiAL enterprise jMuof)^ iiiodcrrj )iii(i()ns. inaiiil\ (tial of individuals or faniilies e({iii|)|)ed onl\ for ai;ri- cnltiiral j)ursiiils or forliinc Imnlini;, dillers alloj;('llier from lliat of I lie ancient Greek cities. IVoni Avliicli large companies liived oil', consist ing of all grades and trades, willi ful! apj)liances loi" foundint' nevv cities in tlit^ wilderness. In the latter case, althoiigli a bond ol'kinshij) was long retained towards tlie mother cit}. llie new comnni- nity at once set up for itself, depending on its o\s n resources, making its own laws. and. above all. coining its own nionev . On tlie other hand, the modern colony remained a dependency of the mother country, from ^. 2 — wliicli ii roiiliiiiHMl si ream of rmigriinls scl out. or wcit sml oiil. \villntiit sii|)|>lics or applianrcs cxropt for the imincdialc ^^allls of a piiinillv*' ,it;rinilliiral po|)iilat ion. The colonists (-oiiliiiurd to look to tlic old land i'or all tlir necessities ol' civili/.alion and ot'llie niannlaet nrers. art: and \\\\vu trade l)e<;an to sprin<; \\\) anion<;st tliein. tlie\ made nse of tlie small hoards of monev l)rowi;lit onl \)\ the more uealtliv settlers. oi- siicli iloles as ^vere shipped onl h\ the kin^ This monev no sooner made its ap|)earanee in eireidation than it was ship|)ed hack as reniillanees : loi-. as the imports exceeded tlie exports, there was in those days a ehionic scarcity of exchange. And. as the colonial anlhorilies had neither the ])rivilege nor the means to strike monev. no ;i(h'(piale remedy .seemed at hand, they ol'len resorted to the foolish practice of laisim; h> law the xalne of all coins. Ix'lievini; thai this would |)revent their exprMtMtion : ])nt lheoid\ result was a depreciation of iheir ciirrenc\ and a distnrhance tifexchan^e and other trade rehitions with the molher countiN. The conseanada. l-^ven yet. no authorized coinage has heen shuck within its l)orders. altliough annual su|)plies. sulllc'eul for the re(|tiirements of trade. Iiav(t for a numher of > cars heen struck at the Royal Mint in London. These coinages, and one or two of those struck at earlier dales, bear special devices relating to Canada. — J — Towards tlie close of Uw. sevfiitrenlli centiirv. llie srarcity of money in Canada was such that one of the Intrndants settled tii(? ^'overnnient accounts \>y hotis or promises to pay wrillcn on pliivin*; cards cut in two. This currency, known as card nioiu'V. was unhcsilalinyly accepted as a sid)slitule for coin, and continued to he issued and to circuhile freely until the government of France neglected to redeem it promptly. Ihen it hccame depreciated, and al the earnest solicitations of the peoj)le il was redeemed at a heavy discount and withdiaun from circulation. Afler this, a small coinage of coppci" was struck at the Mint at Kouen and La Hoclu'lle; hut it was altogether iiia(le(piale for the recpiiremenls of the colony, and the people were for a time in sore straits for want of money, until the Intendants again resulted to the issue of card money »o pav the government dehts. This paper money came to h(.' issued in such lavish (pian- lities. in the extravagant days hefore the con(pu'st. that it hecame .'.'most worthless. With the advent of the English and a <'hang(! from a chronic state of warfare, trade hegan to revive and there was soon a considerahle influx of money, such as it was. This money consisted mainly of foreign silver coins, in which those of Spain, Portugal and France j)redomi- nated. The current value of these various coins was fixed hy law, and so dilferent and fractional were they in amount, that it was dillicult for traders to make correct computations when reckoning large payments or counting up their cash sales. Ahout the heginning of the century, a large cpiantily of old worn-out coppers of (ieorge il and 111. withdrawn from circidation in Great Britain, uas sent out to Canada and was soon absorbed into circulation. As this transaction |)i-()\ (>(l :i |)i'<)lil:il)lr one lo llic iiM|)i)i Icis. it si iiiiii l;il(>(l tillici's In iiiiporl llic ;iii()ii\ iiiniis l'ji<;lisii IriKlcsincn s Idkcns of iSii-ij. w illidraw II IVoiii riiciiliilinii jihoiil iiiiiii(li;iii devices were Jidopled: liiit iieiirlv all were ;iiioii\ iiioiis :iiid so li^l>l l]i:it tlie prolil lo llic iiii|)oi'lcrs iiiiisl liiive iiceii eiiorinoiis : sonielinies exceeding; scN ciil \ -li\ (• or .1 liimdred per e(Mil. Tliese lii^lil coins coiiliiiiicd lo lie iinporlcd ;ind lo J)e piislied inio circiiiiilion. in cNcr-iiicreasinL; ipianlilies. nnlil tlic ioni; siiilciini; jiiihlic l)(^aii lo conijiiain. \\ lien tlie aj^ilalion liccanie slron^ lor llie rediess tiflliis grievance, llie ciislonis aiilliurilics were inslrueled to inlertlict I'arllier ini])orlalions. iJiiL lids inlei'diclion oidv scrNcd lo sliniulat(3 a new move. The iiiijiorleis. nol caiiiii; lo losi; so j)i'olilal)le a iiiaiicli ol llicii' hiisiiicss. scl up <'oining presses of their own. And as llic sliikiiij; of iiionc\ was an •dtogellier new iiidiislix lo llx' coimiIin. and as lew il'anv of the cili/cns scciiis to lia\ c made aii\ ad\anccnienl in liiiihei' arl or design. nolliiiiiL; original orarlislic was allemj)le(l. The coiners acccplcd lor pallcrns such coins as were most ahiindaiil amoiiL; lliosc in circiilalion. 'I'he work- manship loo was ol'lcn so harharoiis ihal il niiglit Ije classed as inlcrior lo ihal of I he middle ages, wliile specimens occur ihal. like iheearh coinag(; ol Western I'^urope. seem lo he imilalions ol" imilalions so r(;inote ihal liardl\ aii\ liace ol" ihe oritiinal remains. Some vears allcr litis coinage had commenced, an engraver named Joscjih Arnault came out from France and set lip an t'stahlisliriictit foi- sfrikiiii; coins in NFontrt'-al. lie stiiK'k a nnrnl)''r nl" (liMi-rcnl pieces, some ul" uliicli are exceedingly rare. .All are orij^inai in design and display a rnncli liii^lier de<;ree of arl and heller class of work- manship than ihe conleniporary cdins sinick in (lanada. it wasahoiil i when I his |»ri\ ale coinage commenced in Canada, and allhoiii;ii il did nol exlcnd over six yeai's. so acfi\y to he struck in the Dominion, there will he lillle left of dis- tinctive national arl in the coinage of any nation, for commer-ce and literary intercourse aic so Mending the diircrenl peoj)les. that few. if any. jieculiaiilies in style \s\\\ remain. — — I. OIn'. ^ FA. VTOn CANADENSIS a nule bust to lliclclt. Riv. I!K\0M[,I/)S \ fSCAPK iSn a mu-lilv rxr- ciilcd limine ol";! rciiuilc supposed lo W (lancing, copper, si/e ?.() luilliint'lrcs. o. O/m'. M:\ A'I'on Ml-: CANADIILNSIS a bust like llic l;isl C(pi;illv rude. lU'w Similar lo Ihe last, copper, size 26 iiiilliinelres. Tliese I wo coins are ibe earliest known to Ijavfi been struck in ('au;ida. Tlie lellcrin" is so irretiular. and tbe e\(*('iili()ii (tf iIh' limn*(\s so I'nimli. lliat no one l)iit llio merest novice could base enqi-aved tbe dies. All the existint; siu'cimeiis areso carelessh struck lb;il tbe lai'ger part of the lci;euds iU'c indistinct. It is tbd'elore only with tlie hcl|) of lour or live diHertMitlv sti'uck speci- mens that the an boh- i'>scrlp| ion cim |)(> deciphered. They ;u(' siiid to liaNcheen sliiuk h\ a blacksmith in OiH'bcc an. Similar fo llir last. Rev. A roiiglily cxcciiU'd liaip. copper, size rt- niijli- nu;lrcs. T). Ohv. Plain. Rev. Plain. <()j)j)rr. si/.c 2;*) iiiiiliiiielrt'S'. Of llie lirsl (»r lliese. llicro aiv about Iwontv-fivo vari('li('s that iiiav ho ariari^cd inio a ntimlx r of gioiins. cacli of whicli l)C'ai-.s cv idcncc of lia\ iiig ])C'ni I he woik ol a (lifU'reiit engraver. From lliis, wc arc led lo infer llial each groiij) was si nick al a diU'cient eslahlislinient. and tliat these eslablislirnents Avert; scl iij) in dilfcrenl sec- lions of the country. 'Hiey are inn'lalions of llie worn- out eopju'r coins ofdeorge 11 and III llial al lliat lime were still plentifid in circtdali(»n. Tlie legends on these coins wvvv. so defaced In wear llial llie eiigra\crs iicNcr attempted to cop\ anxlliing hiil llie ligiii-cs in outline. The second, of wliicli lliere are ahoiil live \arielies. is similarly copied IVoui an Irish coin. \V hih; these imila- tioiis continued to he circiilaled wilhoiil (lueslion. others, simplx j)lain i\'\<.i-s of copper, were ciil oiil of ihin sheets of that metal, and. w ilhoiil an\ allempi al design. made to circulale. allhoiigh some wci'e stamped wllh one or more letleis. Instances are relalcd o( Workmen w ho. wlien they found it necessary lo make any small pur- chases. Avould cut out sullicieni of these coj)per discs for their requirements. I*^ven old brass butlous with ihe shank broken off were not refused. 6. OAi'. GLOHIUN S lllN IS a rude and iiuUstinct bust to tlie right. licv. IIM I IF a female figure \er\ roughly and indis- — 8 — linctlx oiitliiipd : in lior right liand is n troloil. copjxT. si/e '?." inilliiiuHrcs. Laic in (lie rij^'lilcnitli century lliere was a large niimlxT of roppcr coins struck in England, in iinilalion (dtlu' regular coinage, ^^il1l iinin',elligil)le legends, and. as tlie hnsis displaved thereon were not that ofthe king, ihev conid not he classed as countei feits. although well calculated lo deceive the connnon peo|)le. Manvofthese were broiighl lo ('anada uilh the old coinages nienlioned jjcforc as having heen withdrawn IVom circulation, and the coiner of the piece ahove descrihed ado[)led one of ihein as his pattern. 7. Obv. Laureated })ust of George III. to the. right uilliin a urealh ol'oak leaves. Rev. llA[.l'Pi:NNY l'()l\i:\ cxcri^mc i.Sn a fen)alc to I he Id'l sealed on a hale: in her I'ighl hand is a pair of scales and in her left a cornucoj)ia. hrass. ay niillini. (S. ()/)'.>. Similar lo Ihe last. RiV. I'^xci'ij^nc I (Si:? female as on iasl. hrass. si/e 27 unllimetres. There are over twenty variel ii^soflhese coins, shewing cvei'V grade of art. fro(n excelleuce to l)arl)arisni. Some ofthe heller ones were undouhU'dIv inij)orled. A hoard of copper coins was found a few years ago in the vaults of on(,' of Ihe l)anks al (Juehec. havin" evidenllv Ijeen stcnved away when ihe inferior nnaulhorized <'oinage was called down. This variety was ver\ ahiindan! in the hoard. Avhile man\ of the specimens were bright and — — iinrlrmlated, slirwiiig tliat at tlic lime of (Iio laving up of llic lioard llit'V liad onh iiisl l)ccii struck. q. Ohv. A laiircalcd l)ii.st in ariuoiii" of riporjio T^'. h> the Icill . riideh cxcciilcd. t Ri'V. A liarp uiili I'm dale r8oo imdciiicatli. brass, size r?7 miilimerres. This also exists in maiiv sarielies. Il was also svvs al)iiiidaiil ill tlic lioard. willi iincircMlalctl exaiiiplcs. vvliicli sliews tiial it was coined siiiiMllaiicoiisl\ willi n" 8 and lliat neitlier Aven; siriick al llic lime iiidicaled by their dates. rtSrr^ and io. hut diirini; llie era olllu' light coinage, early in icS.l'j. Il is also worthy of nole that tin; nneireiilaled specimens ar(! loiind onix among the rnder varieties. 10. Ohv. A shi[) under fidl sail lo I Ik- rii^iil. Ri'v. SKIPS I C()i.OMi:S I ^ I C0MM1:HCI<:, cop- per, size ?.() in. II. OU'. swws (:oL()Mi:s a^d commkiicI': 181:"). A vei'V shorl ship iinn'er lidl sail. Rev. R)ll f I PLJIUJC | ACCOMMODATION a (piateifoil on either side of ^ for . brass, size :?8 in. r 9.. O/n'. Same as lasl. Rlv. OM-: I IIALFPIANV I TOMvN sprigs of flowers above and l)el()\\ liaH'jx'nny . bi-ass. size luS in. The lii-sl of ihesc seems to lia\(' been a favorile design among the imporleis of coins, as (here are over twenty varieties of liirmingham maimfactnreknown. JMsidestwo - 10 - from the Uiiifcd Slates. The one of Gmadijin maniifar- tiire is inferior in worknjanslii]) and light in weight The dies seem lo have been eonlinued in use h)ng aHer ihey were worn onl. as specimens occur on wliicli liardly any trace of the ih'sign is visil)Ie. Tlie two latter varicities are also imperfectly struck. A hoard of lliem was found in Prince Kdward Island, in an uncireulated condition, indicating some tr)wn on the island as the prohahlc j)laee of their mintage. i3. 0U>. 1MU)\ L\(:K of N0\ a SCOTIA bust of George 1\ to the left, /icv. 0M<: PIvNW T0M:\ r.S3r^ a two leaved thistle, copper, size .'Ij m. [4- Ohw Similar to last. Riv. llALn>K\.\> TOKKN i,S3?. a two leaved thistle. eopp(;r. si/e :>8 m. There are four or five varieties of each si/e, struck as counterfeits, imitatin" the full wcitiht token (Mirreney imported by the Provincial government from liirjnin- gliam. The woikmanship is much ruder, while a rare variety exists in which the date is. by nnstake. made to read i3^^ AfilUClILTUHE % COMMKHCi-: -p WKS ' CANADA a hoiupiet consisting of roses, thistles, shamrocks and ears of wheat. /fcH'. TOKEN M0.\TRI:AL a wreath of sixteen laurel leaves enclosing UN | SOU copper, si/.c -.i- m. SoTne of these coins also occui"*iiiJhrass. while nearly all of lliem have their edijes milled. Il \\as Ihc first coin issued hy Joseph Arnault and is still plentiful. The « nn sou » series, of which there are over foriN varieties, mainly imj)orted from the United States, were accepted as currency for a short timeafler the withdrawal fromcircu- lation of the light coins previously desciihed. Arnaidt seems to have profiled hv this fact, as this coin is as light as those withdrawn, while many sj)ccimcns occur sti-iiek over numlxMS 5. 7 and 9. shewing that lie worked up the unmarketal)lc material. 17. O/n-. *'rn,\I)K 85* AGMICI l/lTHi: . LOWER CANADA a wi-eath similar to the last. Rev. i3ANK 'r(JKr:\ MONTMEAL a wreath consist- ing of laurels to the left and palm lo the right enclosing r/2 I PENNY copj)er. si/.e ?.; m. 18. Obv, Same as last. /ftv. PIJO nONO lUBMCO MONfMEAEa wreath consisting of palm to the !efl and maple leaves to the — 12 - right rnrlosin- i/o | VK^W \ TOKKN | rH.l; copprr. size 37 m. BoMi ortlicsc coins hv Aiiiaiiil arc cxcccdiiifTl y rare, the latlcrsofar as known l)(;in_i; unitpie. 'I'lie same ohverse (lie was used for hoi li varieties. 'I'licir rarilv rnav he aeconnled (or hN ihe hrcakine of llie dies, or in that they were just coniplcled hcforc the willnhawal ol the « un son » series, ulien I lie « hank tokens » were made the sole copper curiency. 19. 0/n>. T\\' Sf W"' MOI.SON. MONTRKAL. a cask wilhirj an inner circle; ahove is liHI'LVVI'J^S helow J)IS'ilIJj:iiS I ^. ^. 4*. to the left lUW and to the right SOU. /?li nol common is bv no means no » rare. It was the liisl of (he u hank tokens >. to he issued and the onh senii-ollieial eoin ofC^iniadian mannractnre. There ma\ ha\c hecn olln'r coins shuck in (lanada (lurinti (lie lime under consideialion. hul il" an\ such there he. no speciniens liaNc turned u|) or all liaee of their place of mintage hasheen lost. Moritrtal, June. if*(ji