Collection Highlights
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June 25, 2014
5 Cents: Canada, 1943
The beaver briefly disappeared from our nickel during World War II. So did the nickel typically used in minting the coin, a consequence of wartime rationing of the metal. -
June 25, 2014
1 Cent, Framed: Canada, 1908
In January of 1908, Countess Grey, wife of the Governor General, inaugurated the new Canadian branch plant of the Royal Mint by ceremonially striking a one-cent piece- the first produced in Canada. -
June 25, 2014
$10 Bill, Bank of Montreal: Canada, 1859
As the nineteenth century advanced, measures taken to foil counterfeiters became increasingly sophisticated. -
June 25, 2014
1 Cent Piece: Province of Canada, 1858
In 1858 the Province of Canada (Québec and Ontario) officially bid farewell to the pounds and shillings of its British superiors, choosing a decimal base for its first coin issue. -
June 25, 2014
$2 Bank Note, Farmer’s Bank of St. Johns: Canada, 1837
Phantom banks were not banks but the brainchildren of shady characters who produced legitimate looking bank notes without any capital to back them up. -
June 25, 2014
Shipwrecked Louis d’or: France, 1724
Coins for New France were minted in France and shipped across the Atlantic. -
June 25, 2014
Playing Card Money: New France, 1749
In 1685, the garrisons of New France found themselves short of the French coinage needed to pay their soldiers. An ingenious solution was proposed: use playing cards as paper money. -
June 25, 2014
10,000,000,000,000 Mark Note: Germany, 1924
With the Allied Nations demanding reparation payments of billions in gold after the First World War, Germany very quickly slid into inflation. -
June 25, 2014
1 Pound Mafeking Note: British Army, South Africa, 1900
During the Boer War, the small British garrison town of Mafeking was besieged by the Boer Army for 31 weeks. -
June 25, 2014
1 Kwan Note: China, circa 1368-1398
This is an example of some of the earliest paper money. Like all early paper money, it was redeemable for hard currency or precious metal - in this case 1000 copper coins weighing around 3 kilograms.