CANADA, Hudson Bay Company. Eastmain district. Set of four (4) Brass Made Beaver Tokens. By Henry Smith of Birmingham. Struck circa 1857. Average Near EF.

Electronic Auction 571 – Session 2
Lot: 1304.
Closing Date: Sep 26 2024 10:00 ET

World, Bronze

Estimate: $ 750

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CANADA, Hudson Bay Company. Eastmain district. Set of four (4) Brass Made Beaver Tokens. By Henry Smith of Birmingham. Struck circa 1857. Includes: 1 Made Beaver Token (30mm, 8.02 g, 12h). (HB)/ EM/ 1/ NB / Coat-of-arms surmounted by fox seated left atop cap; elk supporters. Breton 926; Charlton FT-1. // ½ Made Beaver Token (27mm, 5.02 g, 12h). (HB)/ EM/ ½/ NB / Coat-of-arms surmounted by fox seated left atop cap; elk supporters. Breton 927; Charlton FT-2. // ¼ Made Beaver Token (25mm, 4.06 g, 12h). (HB)/ EM/ ¼/ NB / Coat-of-arms surmounted by fox seated left atop cap; elk supporters. Breton 928; Charlton FT-3. // ¹⁄₈ Made Beaver Token (19mm, 2.64 g, 12h). (HB)/ EM/ ¹⁄₈/ NB / Coat-of-arms surmounted by fox seated left atop cap; elk supporters. Breton 929; Charlton FT-4. Average Near EF. Rare. Four (4) tokens in lot.

From the Alexander Christopher Collection.

The ‘made beaver’ was the standard unit of account of Hudson Bay Company forts, equivalent to one male beaver skin collected during the winter months. These beaver-denominated tokens were produced for the East Maine district, one of the most productive fur trapping regions, around 1857. Breton relates that the First Nations trappers who traded with the Company did not like the easily-lost tokens, and preferred instead to simply maintain a balance on the Company books.

Closing Date and Time: 26 September 2024 at 11:41:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.