1820 Token North West Company, Brass MS(PCGS#952)

November 2019 Baltimore Colonial Coins and Americana Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

5350

等级

VG10

价格

16,844

详细说明

1820 North West Company Token. W-9250. Rarity-4. Brass. VG-10 (PCGS). 132.58 grains. Holed, as issued. A remarkable example from this scarce issue with olive-gold surfaces and dark tobacco patina throughout. The usual granularity shows beneath magnification but the surfaces are smooth and somewhat glossy to the naked eye. The overall wear pattern and remaining detail around the hole suggests that it was worn as intended for some period of time. A few trivial pinscratches on the beaver are the only notable abrasions throughout. The North West Company was one of the most significant companies involved in the North American fur trade during the 18th and 19th centuries. Founded in Montreal in 1779, it grew to be the biggest competitor to the Hudson Bay Company. This token was issued in 1820, valued at one beaver pelt. The following year the company merged with and into Hudson Bay Company. The tokens are believed to have been struck in Birmingham, England, by John Walker & Co for the Canadian and American market. Normally, these tokens are found very well worn and often corroded from having been unearthed in the region of the Lower Columbia River and Umpqua River valleys in Oregon. However, this example remains relatively well-composed and probably survived through different means. It was last offered at auction nearly 40 years ago in our sale of the New York Public Library Collection in October 1982. Provenance: From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex our (Bowers and Ruddy's) sale of the New York Public Library Collection, October 1982, lot 2101. PCGS# 952. Click herefor certification details from PCGS.