token; trade 1 penny/ 2 sous ( Canada)
Production date
1852
Description
Canadian trade token issued by the Bank of Quebec to the value of one penny (old penny so 1/240) or 2 sous. On the obverse is shows a Canadian Habitant standing in traditional winter costume with the words "PROVINCE DU CANADA DEUX SOUS". On the reverse is the seated female figure of commerce with cornucopia. To her left is a beehive and right a sailing ship and beaver, behind is a cliff with a fort flaying a flag. There is a shield with a lion in the front and written on it is "QUEBEC BANK TOKEN 1852 ONE PENNY". Engraver - John Shaw
There were issues to counter a shortage of small change in Lower Canada in the early 19th century. They were sometimes called Habitant tokens. Habitants being the French settlers and inhabitants of French origin who settled in the St Lawrence River and Gulf areas. These series of tokens are also sometimes called "Papineau" after Louis-Joseph Papineau a leader of the reformist Patriote Movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837-1938.
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Object detail
On the reverse is "QUEBEC BANK TOKEN 1852 ONE PENNY"
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