{"product_id":"jdod-h069","title":"LC-48-1 1812 Lower Canada Tiffin Token Uncirculated (MS60) (Scratched)","description":"LC-48-1 1812 Lower Canada Tiffin Token Uncirculated (MS60) (Scratched)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince their formation in the 18th century, the Canadian colonies under Britain had suffered a chronic shortage of small coins.  The British did little to alleviate this, shipping occasional lots of worn-out coppers overseas that quickly dwindled as colonists struggled to do commerce.  By 1820, any coin that was roughly the right size could pass for a halfpenny -- be it English, American, French, Spanish, or anything in between.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDesperate measures were called for.  Around 1832, Montreal grocer Joseph Tiffin took matters into his own hands and illegally imported these lightweight tokens into Canada.  They were then stamped with the year 1812 to skirt the laws that forbade importing currency.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOwn a fascinating little piece of Canadian history!","brand":"Prices Further Reduced!","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52162676588833,"sku":"xDOD-H069","price":94.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1744\/7457\/files\/H069.jpg?v=1766432390","url":"https:\/\/www.colonialacres.com\/products\/jdod-h069","provider":"Colonial Acres Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}