token; trade halfpenny/ un sou (Canada)
Production date
1837
Description
Canadian trade token issued by the Bank of Montreal to the value of half a penny or 1 sou. On the obverse is shows a Canadian Habitant standing in traditional winter costume with the words "PROVINE DU BAS CANADA UN SOU". Which translates as province of lower Canada. On the reverse is the coat of arms of the city of Montreal with "CONCORDIA SALUS" and the name of the issuing bank in the ribbon "BANK OF MONTREAL" and the words "BANK TOKEN BANK OF MONTREAL 1837 HALF PENNY"
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
Reverse: "CONCORDIA SALUS" on ribbon "BANK OF MONTREAL" and the words "BANK TOKEN BANK OF MONTREAL 1837 HALF PENNY"
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