Just scored some really cool 1837/1852/54 Canada Bank Tokens

I had one, but these came up local today on a selling app. Just got home with them. This is a City Bank variety LC-9A4

 

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Very nice!! I like em.

Here is another one to look out for.

 

Nice specimens. I like these old copper coins.

 

Nice, I like them. My oldest son has an almost complete set of the Bank of Upper Canada.

 

These are by far my favorite design. Plus it is an inexpensive way to add a classic "Dragon Slayer" coin to your collection.

 

Zippy Kitty still hasn't gotten around to attributing her hoard of Canadian Tokens.

 

Gotta love those ‘Dragon Slayers’

 

These look cool.

What were they used for, because they obviously circulated?

Were these similar to hard times tokens, in that they were supposed to fill a need for circulating change? Or were these advertisements?

 

Change.

They filled the need for circulating change. Remember Canada, as a country, didn't exist until 1858 and even then just as a confederation of loosely connected territories/provinces and except for a modest 1858 coinage, didn't get their own coinage until the 1870's, and even that was supplied from overseas. Before that they used coins from other countries, probably mostly Britain and the US. When we had out hard times in 1837 coinage dried up here and there. In the 1850's it was probably caused by the copper in the US on cent being worth more than a cent, and then in 1857 the downsizing of the US cent (Canada used a large sized cent until 1920.) During the 1860's and early 1870's while coins were being hoarded in the US, a lot of them went to Canada and circulated there, which is probably why Canada didn't start regular coinage unto 1876 after the US coins went back home.

Many of these tokens were made at the Soho Mint (some of the last coinage of the Boulton and Watt firm) Birmingham England.

 

I believe some of the older tokens were acquisition by private entrepreneurs so they could conduct business in their local region.
This Rutherford Brothers ½ Penny token is Circa 1841.



http://coinsandcanada.com/tokens-medals-commercial.php

 

http://coinsandcanada.com/tokens-medals-commercial.php[/QUOTE]That Molson Half Penny is my new grail. I have never wanted anything as bad as I want that right now.

 

Never seen this one before. The link you provided was great. It looks like these are more for certain stores and can only be used there. For example the one you posted. Since it has no date this one could only be used at R. & I. S. Rutherford, a store in St. John's Newfoundland.

I might have to look for a few of these. Some of them have really nice designs.

 

I am sure these tokens circulated among the local population very well as a place such as Rutherford's store was sometimes the only one around.
The store owner most likely payed less than face value to have these tokens made.
If the store owner payed 50% of face he would profit 100% every time a token left the store.

 

IT is a nice token, one with a name that is still recognizable.
I hope you don't mind if I and others post more photos.

 

And didn't come back for redemption. Same principle behind Civil War Storecards, hard times storecards, 17th century English tokens and the early conder tokens. The provided a way to make change and extra profit on those that went out and didn't come back.

 

It did matter if they came back or not. The store owner wanted them back, it meant he was selling goods. Folks used them to buy other merchandise and a profit was made again. These tokens made commerce flow.

 

Not at all. Please do. I bought this one last night. It was the nicest example, AND one of the lowest priced on Ebay. It's for my friends Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles up in Sunnyvale. .

 

Thanks Riff.
That is a nice coin. I have been waiting for one of those to come my way.

Here is one from Lower Canada

 

That's cool! That eagle has a sort of an early American look to me for some reason.