lorraine
Silver Member
- Dec 15, 2010
- 4,470
- 3,762
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab GT; Sov Elite
- Primary Interest:
- Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
typo: should read "1837" coin/token
Hi ,
Someone must have lost their old coin/ old token collection.
Today, I continued hunting the area where I had found the "Columbus" half dollar, and in the dry sand I recovered a very historic Canadian Bank Token Half Penny associated with the Lower Canada Insurrection of 1837 .
The lettering on the coin reads:
PROVINCE DU BAS CANADA
UN SOU
HALF PENNY BANK TOKEN
1837
This was a dry sand find at upper end of the beach; I was so happy to find this token as I love History of any kind..any era...anywhere.
As the tide was receding , I was also able to get in some hunting in the rocky area, and that 's where I found all the coins.
Many of the coins were in full view laying on top of the mud, visible in small troughs, and against rocks..made of easy pickins.
There has got to be some gold / silver in this area...I'll keep trying.
Spoons are starting to show up again.
Here's some pics and a bit of info about that Half Penny Bank Token
Lorraine
LOWER CANADA
The former Lower Canada is now the Province of Quebec. Most of the private
tokens in Quebec were light weight, with many counterfeits circulating along with the
genuine pieces. As commerce became more regular the banks instituted a policy of
accepting the privates by weight only. Any system of official discounting engenders
great discontent in the discountee, and to address this discomfort in the populace the
largest banks petitioned for the right to strike their own tokens. The first authorized issue
was the undated, incorrectly denominated, bouquet type "Un Sous" issued anonymously
by the Bank of Montreal in 1835. These tokens were a wonderful success, and were
released in great quantity. The following year the bank issued another token in its own
name, again with incorrect denomination. Both of these are quite common in circulated.
AUs are occasionally found. Other banks imitated the BOM pieces, also various
entrepreneurs. The imitations all have the denomination correctly styled in the singular.
None of the imitations are as common as the Bank of Montreal prototypes, but most can
be found.
The bouquet sous were succeeded by the "habitant" tokens of the Insurrection
year 1837. These pennies and halves were issued by City Bank, Bank of Montreal, and
Banque du Peuple. They're not as common as bouquet sous... The habitant on the
obverse was associated in the mind of the Francophone public with Georges Papineau,
key figure in the rebellion. One can gauge their popularity and the inadequate quantity
released by the normal wear of surviving specimens. Most are banged up G. High grades
are distinctly not around.
When the insurrection was crushed (thereby becoming a "rebellion") Papineau
escaped to the USA. It was thought that it simply wouldn't do to have money circulating
with the arch-rebel's portrait, never mind that it really wasn't him. Bank of Montreal
planned to replace the well loved habitant tokens with pieces showing the lovely "side
view" portrait of the bank. The tokens ordered, struck, and paid for, the manager decided
he didn't like them, wouldn't let them circulate, and the few surviving specimens are now
infrequent auction items.
The same three banks which cooperated on the Habitant tokens essayed another
collaboration starting in 1842 with the "front view" tokens. These pennies and halves
were popular and were issued in large quantities. They are much more common than
bouquet sous, and are available in gratifyingly high grades.
The Habitant type was revived by the Quebec Bank in 1852. These are not rare,
but are not particularly common either.
Hi ,Someone must have lost their old coin/ old token collection.
Today, I continued hunting the area where I had found the "Columbus" half dollar, and in the dry sand I recovered a very historic Canadian Bank Token Half Penny associated with the Lower Canada Insurrection of 1837 .
The lettering on the coin reads:
PROVINCE DU BAS CANADA
UN SOU
HALF PENNY BANK TOKEN
1837
This was a dry sand find at upper end of the beach; I was so happy to find this token as I love History of any kind..any era...anywhere.
As the tide was receding , I was also able to get in some hunting in the rocky area, and that 's where I found all the coins.
Many of the coins were in full view laying on top of the mud, visible in small troughs, and against rocks..made of easy pickins.
There has got to be some gold / silver in this area...I'll keep trying.
Spoons are starting to show up again.
Here's some pics and a bit of info about that Half Penny Bank Token
Lorraine
LOWER CANADA
The former Lower Canada is now the Province of Quebec. Most of the private
tokens in Quebec were light weight, with many counterfeits circulating along with the
genuine pieces. As commerce became more regular the banks instituted a policy of
accepting the privates by weight only. Any system of official discounting engenders
great discontent in the discountee, and to address this discomfort in the populace the
largest banks petitioned for the right to strike their own tokens. The first authorized issue
was the undated, incorrectly denominated, bouquet type "Un Sous" issued anonymously
by the Bank of Montreal in 1835. These tokens were a wonderful success, and were
released in great quantity. The following year the bank issued another token in its own
name, again with incorrect denomination. Both of these are quite common in circulated.
AUs are occasionally found. Other banks imitated the BOM pieces, also various
entrepreneurs. The imitations all have the denomination correctly styled in the singular.
None of the imitations are as common as the Bank of Montreal prototypes, but most can
be found.
The bouquet sous were succeeded by the "habitant" tokens of the Insurrection
year 1837. These pennies and halves were issued by City Bank, Bank of Montreal, and
Banque du Peuple. They're not as common as bouquet sous... The habitant on the
obverse was associated in the mind of the Francophone public with Georges Papineau,
key figure in the rebellion. One can gauge their popularity and the inadequate quantity
released by the normal wear of surviving specimens. Most are banged up G. High grades
are distinctly not around.
When the insurrection was crushed (thereby becoming a "rebellion") Papineau
escaped to the USA. It was thought that it simply wouldn't do to have money circulating
with the arch-rebel's portrait, never mind that it really wasn't him. Bank of Montreal
planned to replace the well loved habitant tokens with pieces showing the lovely "side
view" portrait of the bank. The tokens ordered, struck, and paid for, the manager decided
he didn't like them, wouldn't let them circulate, and the few surviving specimens are now
infrequent auction items.
The same three banks which cooperated on the Habitant tokens essayed another
collaboration starting in 1842 with the "front view" tokens. These pennies and halves
were popular and were issued in large quantities. They are much more common than
bouquet sous, and are available in gratifyingly high grades.
The Habitant type was revived by the Quebec Bank in 1852. These are not rare,
but are not particularly common either.
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It's so funny I found a spoon & cars today to,didn't take a picture of the spoon tough,will post after I comment on yours..You do a Job well done on your photos & all the information about your Finds,your Gold & Silver will be next
WTG,,HH
