THE CARD MONEY OF FRENCH CANADA

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 22, 2026, Article 23

Stack's Bowers Director of Consignments & Senior Numismatist Dennis Hengeveld published a nice article on Canadian card money. -Editor

In the 17th century, New France was trying to find its footing in the Americas. The French had been active in North America as early as 1534, when Jacques Cartier first explored the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Over the next two centuries, the extent of French possessions in North America grew until it achieved its largest territorial reach in 1712. While its territories extended as far as modern day Louisiana, its most important colony was Canada, which extended south of the Great Lakes to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. With its capital at Quebec City, the legacy of the French in Canada endures to this day, including in the United States, where French town names can be found across the East and Midwest. Its numismatic importance, however, is seen in the rare surviving pieces of card money that were issued in the colony.

Card money was the brainchild of Jacques de Meulles, the chief administrator of the colony from 1682 to 1686, who was chronically short of small change. Because New France had to import much of what it used from the mother country, specie naturally flowed back to France, and coin shortages were common. De Meulles' most urgent concern was payments to soldiers, which could not be delayed. To remedy the problem, he decided to cut up packs of playing cards, sign them, and issue them as money. The cards were readily accepted by local merchants, and over time, the use of card money grew. Specific quantities were issued, and they were redeemed after a pre-determined period.

While the cards solved a temporary problem, other problems soon arose. The cards were relatively easy to counterfeit, and this occurred soon after they were issued. With the cards in circulation, coins were hoarded, further impacting the economy. This led to more cards being issued, and inflationary pressures were soon felt. The issuance of card money, however, continued, until in 1717 they were redeemed at 50% of their value. The coin shortage problem, however, was not solved, and while experiments with copper coins solely meant for the colonies took place in 1722, this offered little relief. As such, King Louis XV re-authorized the use of card money for New France in 1727.

From then until the fall of New France, large quantities of card money were issued. Playing cards were no longer used, but instead specially made cards were utilized, with several signatures, (embossed) seals, and serial numbers providing authenticity. Problems continued to plague the card money, however. With the cards now circulating on par with gold and silver coinage, the cards were hoarded as well; problems with inflation and the French government struggling to fund its American colony continued. After the British were victorious in the Seven Years' War, many cards ended up in the hands of the British. After three years of painstaking negotiations the French eventually agreed to reimburse holders of card money at 25% of their original value, and most cards were redeemed.

Today, genuine card money from French Canada is rare and seldom offered for sale. Those from the first period, printed on actual playing cards prior to 1717, are not known to exist, although imitations are known. Those made after 1729 are sometimes seen, although individual varieties are rare, and offerings are infrequent. In our online archive you will find a handful of examples of card money we previously sold, including this 1729 12 Livres and this 1733 24 Livres.

Card money is not uniquely Canadian. The other European colony famous for them is Suriname, or Dutch Guiana, on the northern coast of South America. While those that use actual playing cards are unknown from French Canada, they do exist for Suriname, even into the 19th century. Additionally, playing cards have also been used in France as money, and similar cards were used in other French colonies, including French Louisiana. All of these are rare. If you have any card money you wish to consign, don't hesitate to contact Dennis Hengeveld at Dennis@stacksbowers.com or call 800-458-4646.

Here's more information from the lot descriptions of the two referenced pieces. -Editor

CANADA. Card Money. 12 Livres, 1729. P-S107. A highly prized piece of early currency that circulated nearly 30 years with this piece showing the first year of issuance. The note is signed by Beauharnois and Hocquart with the aforementioned signature being quite bold and the latter only slightly faded. Three stamped seals are seen which attribute themselves to the signing officials. This denomination was cut at the corners creating an eight-sided truncated rectangle which was meant to more quickly identify the denomination. One of the more pleasing of the scant few we have handled and surely a piece which will likely be carefully watched by expert collectors.

To read the complete lot description, see:
CANADA. Card Money. 12 Livres, 1729. P-S107. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-5YJFR/canada-card-money-12-livres-1729-p-s107)

CANADA. French Administration. 24 Livres, 1733. P-S108. PMG Very Fine 25.
An exceptionally rare piece of card money, dated 1733 at upper right. 24 Livres was the highest denomination of card money and is known as having been issued in 1729, 1730, 1733, 1735, 1742, and 1749. All card money is rare, and the present issue is no exception, with opportunities to acquire examples presenting itself extremely infrequently. While listed in the Pick specialized catalog they were government issued and they should have been listed in Volume 1. The Charlton catalog lists this issue on page 2, and states "all card money is very rare," making reference to a 2019 sale of a 1729 dated 24 Livres for $38,675 Canadian.