MORE ON THE '1915' HUDSON BAY COMPANY TOKEN

I saw the inquiry looking for more information on the Hudson's Bay Co. token Duane Feisel has. I do have the essential text (Gingras) and have found no image of this token. However, he repeatedly references that many examples were made locally by the various posts with their own supply of scrap metal. These were made in handfuls and in some of his articles in the RCNA journal he theorized that many are still sitting in their respective posts or nearby, untouched.

This appears to be the only HBC token I have seen or heard of that features a date. Post managers would not have had a need for a date, except maybe if they wanted to commemorate something (like Duane's theory on Fort George). Much more important were the initials and/or crest of the company, which illiterate trappers would know with confidence. However, in that case I would suspect there would be more commemoration to the design, even if working with crude tools.

The inclusion of a date could have been purposeful as the post managers' way of taking note of his tokens, in an historic sense. The company itself was notorious for not keeping much of any records on the production of even their officially struck tokens. Perhaps he would have wanted to be remembered.

Most tokens, but not all, describe the post they were used for, except most notably the Eastern Arctic, which was so far north as to not be confused with any other post or currency. Even the famous "N.B" token tells us it was from "E.M."

1915 as a date would reflect near the end of the prominence of the made beaver as the value of trade. However, there are many tokens issued by posts and some professionally struck, starting in 1919 and believed to go well into the 1920's.

Here's something interesting I found recently:

This tidbit refers to the crude manufacture of tokens on a whim by post managers. It would make perfect sense in Hudson Strait, which received by boat, supplies only once a year. If a post manager needed to he would create currency or illustrate markers on a whim. I am not sure though the significance of 1915 from his reference point. He does not elaborate on it any further.

I received an email from Geoffery Bell Auctions in Moncton. They have not come across this token or heard of it and had no comment either way.

My interest and study of HBC tokens is a result of moving to Norway House Manitoba, a Cree Reserve. I live on treaty land but am not treaty status. There are many ruins here of the HBC and artifacts are found often. And yes, we really are "up there." Wild dogs are rampant, brown bears are common and on a June day we had a frost warning. It's never dull!

For more information on Norway House, see: Welcome to the Community of Norway House (www.norwayhousecc.ca)

To read the complete article, see: QUERY: '1915' HUDSON BAY COMPANY TOKEN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n22a19.html)

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