★★ Hudson's Bay Company HBC Fur Trade Script Set $10 & $5 ★★
★★ British Columbia District CH-BC10-18-08-Ra / CH-BC10-18-10RA ★★
★★ Hudson's Bay Company HBC Fur Trade Script Set $10 & $5 ★★
★★ British Columbia District CH-BC10-18-08-Ra / CH-BC10-18-10RA ★★
This two-piece card money set is a highly collectible relic of the end of the Hudson's Bay Company's fur-trading era in Canada. It includes both a $5 and $10 card money note from some of the last fur-trading outposts in northern British Columbia. Both notes are unsigned examples in About Uncirculated condition.
The early development and exploration of Canada was based largely on the fur trade, and this trade was dominated for over 250 years by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). HBC established outposts to purchase pelts, and supplied goods such as blankets (similar to the modern HBC trademark blankets), knives, kettles, beads, needles and alcohol in trade to acquire the furs. From the 1850s to the 1950s, brass and aluminum tokens were normally used as currency to pay traders for pelts, which could be redeemed for goods in the outpost stores. On some occasions from the early 1900s to 1960s, tokens or other currency were scarce in remote outposts, and card money was given to traders instead. Surviving examples of HBC card money are generally scarce and are highly collectible pieces of Canadian monetary history.
About Fur-Trade Currency
HBC developed a brilliant and efficient system of trade that would eventually lead to the development of the modern department store. The main currency of trade was the beaver pelt "made beaver," with values of other items being calculated in the number of beaver pelts that could be traded for them. It was not efficient to simply trade pelts for the company's goods. Instead, HBC created "money" calculated in beaver pelts that could be redeemed at any time for goods available in the outposts. If a trapper brought in 100 beaver pelts, they would be given tokens valued at 100 beaver pelts, which could then be spent in the outpost stores. This allowed for payment to traders in remote areas and greatly simplified commerce, forming a near-perfect transition from the barter system to the use of modern money. As the trading post moved towards a more mainstream retail store model, the last tokens and occasional card money were issued with dollar values.
The early development and exploration of Canada was based largely on the fur trade, and this trade was dominated for over 250 years by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). HBC established outposts to purchase pelts, and supplied goods such as blankets (similar to the modern HBC trademark blankets), knives, kettles, beads, needles and alcohol in trade to acquire the furs. From the 1850s to the 1950s, brass and aluminum tokens were normally used as currency to pay traders for pelts, which could be redeemed for goods in the outpost stores. On some occasions from the early 1900s to 1960s, tokens or other currency were scarce in remote outposts, and card money was given to traders instead. Surviving examples of HBC card money are generally scarce and are highly collectible pieces of Canadian monetary history.
About Fur-Trade Currency
HBC developed a brilliant and efficient system of trade that would eventually lead to the development of the modern department store. The main currency of trade was the beaver pelt "made beaver," with values of other items being calculated in the number of beaver pelts that could be traded for them. It was not efficient to simply trade pelts for the company's goods. Instead, HBC created "money" calculated in beaver pelts that could be redeemed at any time for goods available in the outposts. If a trapper brought in 100 beaver pelts, they would be given tokens valued at 100 beaver pelts, which could then be spent in the outpost stores. This allowed for payment to traders in remote areas and greatly simplified commerce, forming a near-perfect transition from the barter system to the use of modern money. As the trading post moved towards a more mainstream retail store model, the last tokens and occasional card money were issued with dollar values.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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*It is your responsibility to determine the condition of the note for yourself
SHIPPING
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$14.99 within Canada
$8.99 to the United States
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Any combined order over $60 Requires TRACKING. Please Contact for Quote
Any combined order over $60 Requires TRACKING. Please Contact for Quote