• Login/ out
  • My Account
  • Register

Top Menu
Shop Menu

  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Deal of the Day
    • Blowout Specials
    • Unique Deals
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Just Released Products
    • Auction
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
    • Perth & New Zealand Mints
    • United States Decimal & Sets
    • World Coins and Paper Money
    • Coin Supplies
    • Mega Specials
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Ebay
  • SELL TO US
  • AUCTION
    • Consign with us
  • CONTACT US
    • Shipping Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQ
  • MEET OUR TEAM
    • History
  • COLLECTORS CORNER
  • BULLION CORNER
  • Deal of the Day
  • Blowout Specials
  • Unique Deals
  • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
  • Royal Canadian Mint
  • Just Released Products
  • Auction
  • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
  • Canada Decimal Coins
  • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
  • Canada Paper Money
  • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
  • Perth & New Zealand Mints
  • United States Decimal & Sets
  • World Coins and Paper Money
  • Coin Supplies
  • Mega Specials
  • Gift Ideas
  • Our Ebay
  • Bullion Corner

  • HOME
  • SHOP
    • Deal of the Day
    • Blowout Specials
    • Unique Deals
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Just Released Products
    • Auction
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Maritime Coins & Bank Tokens
    • Perth & New Zealand Mints
    • United States Decimal & Sets
    • World Coins and Paper Money
    • Coin Supplies
    • Mega Specials
    • Gift Ideas
    • Our Ebay
  • SELL TO US
  • AUCTION
    • Consign with us
    • Current Auction
    • Featured Items
  • INFO
    • Canada’s 150th
    • Contact Us
    • Shipping Information
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQ
    • Days Closed
  • About Us
    • History
    • MEET OUR TEAM
  • COLLECTORS CORNER
  • BULLION CORNER
Contact Us| Login/Out | My Account | New User
 
View Cart
Click for the BBB Business Review of this TBD in Kitchener ON
Shopper Approved | Colonial Acres Coins PayPal | Colonial Acres Coins MasterCard | Colonial Acres Coins Visa | Colonial Acres Coins
Were the Canadian Half Penny Tokens Considered CoinsWere the Canadian Half Penny Tokens Considered CoinsWere the Canadian Half Penny Tokens Considered Coins

Were the Canadian Half Penny Tokens Considered Coins?

May 2, 2022 by Colonial Acres Coins

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Canada was a colony of Great Britain. For some period of time, the territory was divided into two districts, Upper Canada and Lower Canada, along with the maritime colonies, now provinces. These districts had different ways to issue coins and money to the colonists living there, including providing colonial tokens. Since the British government didn’t supply enough materials for coins to the provinces, banks and private companies started issuing their own substitutes for coins in the form of tokens.

Canadian Coins in the 19th Century

Before the Royal Canadian Mint was founded in 1908, coinage for the territory was handled by Great Britain. Additionally, governments, banks and even private businesses throughout Canada would issue tokens and coins during the 19th century as Canada continued to change and grow with more settlers and colonists. Here are some examples of coinage during this time period.

Habitant Penny

In the mid-19th century, there was a shortage of materials for issuing coins, such as silver and copper. Because of this, the Mint in London was not providing materials or coinage for most of Canada. Small coins were often in short supply. The Mint gave banks the authority to issue tokens and small coins, such as the halfpenny. One example was the habitant halfpenny, issued by several banks in the 1830s. The coin features an individual in winter gear on one side, the habitant, and heralds and flowers on the other side.

Nova Scotia Tokens

In the early 1800s, Nova Scotia took matters into its own hands and issued its own tokens for residents to use for transactions. In 1814, Nova Scotia issued a thistle token with Britain’s King George IV featured in the design. The tokens were used as currency even though they weren’t officially authorized by Britain’s mint. Because of the coin shortage and the lack of materials for the Mint, the tokens were an accepted currency in this region of Canada.

Prince Edward Island Tokens

Another region of Canada that issued its own tokens was Prince Edward Island. This region issued a Self Government & Free Trade token to make transactions accessible to the people that lived there in the 1800s. The George Davies copper halfpenny featured the issue year and Prince Edward Island on one side and the words “Self Government and Free Trade” on the other side. Other tokens in Prince Edward Island were pressed with the phrases “Ships, Colonies and Commerce” and “Success to the Fisheries.” These tokens were used from 1830 to 1860.

Imitation Colonial Tokens

Tokens were issued throughout Upper and Lower Canada in the 1800s by banks, local governments and private companies. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous individuals took advantage of the wide variety of halfpenny and penny tokens in circulation and created their own imitation tokens. An example imitation token is the imitation Tiffin token from 1812. These tokens were made from brass and passed as legitimate currency.

Government Response

Because of the lack of regulations for issuing coins and the chaos throughout Upper and Lower Canada with coin shortages, the government started cracking down on unofficial halfpenny tokens and imitation tokens in the late 19th century. In 1870, the Dominion of Canada started issuing coins in five, 10, 25 and 50 cent denominations. Halfpenny tokens and other small coins became obsolete. Today, collectors can enjoy the history behind these rare tokens and other forms of early Canadian currency.

See some examples of the earliest types of coins in Canada from Colonial Acre’s coin catalogue. Each halfpenny token or coin represents a period in Canadian currency history that was unlike any other time.

Filed Under: Royal Canadian Mint

SHOP NOW!

Categories

  • Bullion
  • Canadian Coins
  • Coin Supplies
  • Jewelry
  • News
  • Paper Money
  • Royal Canadian Mint
  • Superman Coins
  • Uncategorized
  • World Coins

Blog Archive

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017

Recent Posts

  • Why Invest in Gold Bullion
  • The Significance Behind the 2022 Peace Dollar Rose Gold Plated Coin
  • Polar Bear $2 Canadian Coin Is the Latest in the “Bigger Picture” Series
  • Learn more About the Royal Canadian Air Force Red Knight Coin
  • Colonial Acres Is Always Buying! Here Are Some Tips When Selling Jewellery
    footer-logo

    991 Victoria Street North
    Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
    N2B 3C7

    Toll Free: 1-888-255-4565

    Tel: 519-579-9302

    Fax: 519-340-1381

    info@colonialacres.com

    MENU

    • Home
    • Sell To Us
    • Auction
    • Collectors Corner
    • Bullion Corner

    ABOUT US

    • History
    • Meet Our Team

    SHOP

    • Royal Canadian Mint
    • Canada Decimal Coins
    • Canada Paper Money
    • Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion
    • Canada Rolls 1960 to Date
    • Deals on Decimal & Paper Money
    • Jewellery

    Read Our Blogs

    STORE HOURS

    Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 4:30pm
    Sat: Click here to see Saturday hours
    Sun: Closed

    MORE INFO

    Contact Us
    Shipping Information
    Terms of Sale
    Privacy Policy

    Facebook Icon | Colonial Acres Coins Click for the BBB Business Review of this TBD in Kitchener ON
    Copyright © 2013 Colonial Acres Coins. All Rights Reserved. Built with Volusion.