CANADA
2020
350th Anniversary Of Hudson`s Bay Company
No Tax
RCM Number: 177002
Composition: Pure Silver Coin
Mintage: 5,000
Weight: 15.87 g
Diameter: 34.0 mm
Face Value: $10
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Susanna Blunt (Obverse)
RCM Staff (Reverse)
In the 19th century, Hudson's Bay Company introduced separate coinage for its fur trade and retailactivities. The metal trade tokens differed by district but the idea was the same: fur trappers received them as credit against future purchases made at HBC trading posts. The design replicated on this 99.99% pure silver coin is based on the East Main District (east/south of Hudson Bay) brass Made Beaver tokens issued between 1860 and 1870. These were namedfor HBC's standardized currency unit, the "Made Beaver" (MB), which was equal to the value of one prime adult male beaver pelt. The tokenswere issued in four different denominations and sizes: 1 MB (30 mm), 1/2 MB (27 mm), 1/4 MB (25 mm) and 1/8 MB (19 mm). And each obverse featured the letters "HB" (Hudson's Bay Company), "EM" (East Main District) and "MB"(Made Beaver), although a few were mistakenly stamped with "NB."