Colonial Acres Coins
SKU: SKU:xDOD-N081
PE-10-2 1829 PEI Ships, Colonies & Commerce Token Very Good (VG8) Weak Strike
PE-10-2 1829 PEI Ships, Colonies & Commerce Token Very Good (VG8) Weak Strike
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PE-10-2 1829 PEI Ships, Colonies & Commerce Token Very Good (VG8) Weak Strike
Since 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.
Enter: the token. The British could not (or would not) supply the necessary coinage, so colonists took matters into their own hands. Prince Edward Island produced numerous copper tokens in penny and halfpenny sizes, meant to provide colonists with the means to trade. The most common variety were the SHIPS COLONIES & COMMERCE tokens inscribed "SUCCESS TO THE FISHERIES" or "SELF GOVERNMENT AND FREE TRADE," but others -- such as "SPEED THE PLOUGH" -- also circulated.
When the colonies united into the Province of Canada in 1858, the decimal system was adopted based on the American dollar. Tokens began to die out, though in Prince Edward Island they circulated until after 1860. They remain interesting and sought-after collector's pieces!
Since 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.
Enter: the token. The British could not (or would not) supply the necessary coinage, so colonists took matters into their own hands. Prince Edward Island produced numerous copper tokens in penny and halfpenny sizes, meant to provide colonists with the means to trade. The most common variety were the SHIPS COLONIES & COMMERCE tokens inscribed "SUCCESS TO THE FISHERIES" or "SELF GOVERNMENT AND FREE TRADE," but others -- such as "SPEED THE PLOUGH" -- also circulated.
When the colonies united into the Province of Canada in 1858, the decimal system was adopted based on the American dollar. Tokens began to die out, though in Prince Edward Island they circulated until after 1860. They remain interesting and sought-after collector's pieces!
