Top 10 most valuable Canadian tokens sold at auction in 2024
By thecanadiannumismatist | Thursday, January 9, 2025
Here's the Top 10 most valuable Canadian tokens sold at auction in 2024. The majority of the following tokens were sold in April at The Prominence X Sale by The Canadian Numismatic Company. Prices are in Canadian currency.
#1 - $16,730 - 1 penny 1839 - Banque du Peuple - AU-55 CCCS
This exact token was previously certified MS-60 Brown (Obverse Scratched) by NGC. Ex. Donald G. Partrick & James A. Stack. It sold in March 1995, then in April 2021 for $13,500 (~↑20%).
An estimate of 16 of these tokens are known. These tokens never really were in circulation. Most of them were melted.
The undisputed key to the 'Side View' series, pairing the Bank of Montreal obverse legend with the Banque du Peuple ribbon reverse. Originally considered an error, scholars now believe it was deliberately struck by a manufacturer to serve as some sort of sample piece, and was thus never intended to be released into circulation.
In April 2024, a NGC AU-58 example sold for $10,030 and, same month, a AU-53 NGC example sold for $5,377.50, both from the Doug Robins Collection.
Furthermore, a NGC AU-Details (Obv. Damage) sold in 2020 for $17,820.
1 penny 1839 - Banque du Peuple »
#2 - $10,157.50 - Magdalen Island 1815 - MS-64+ Red & Brown PCGS
A PCGS MS-62 Brown a été vendu en 2024 pour 5 377,50 $.
After the American revolution the Magdalen Islands were granted to Sir Isaac Coffin, who only once visited his American possessions ; this was in 1815. Before starting he ordered a large number of these coins and a coining press from Sir Edward Thomason, of Birmingham. These he brought to the Islands and distributed the coins by way of loans among the chief men in the Islands. It was his purpose to set up a mint and coin half-pennies as well, but no other coin than this one was ever issued.
In 2020, NGC MS-63 example sold for $8,910 and, the previous year, a NGC PF-62 Red and Brown sold for $4,780.
#3 - $9,560 - Anchor and H - 1/2 penny 1816 - EF-45 NGC
From the Donald G. Partrick Collection.
While expressing some of the minor porosity over the N's in Halfpenny known for the issue, this is virtually the only evidence of porosity on the piece, with even traces of die polish in the obverse margins.
Recent sales
- 2021 - $9,520 - VF-35 NGC
- 2020 - $11,340 - AU-50 NGC
- 2016 - $7,800 - VF - Pitting and planchet flaws (The Richard Cooper Collection)
- 2015 - $7,250 - F (Bell collection)
- 2014 - $9,500 - EF (Lorne Barnes Pre-Confederation Nova Scotia Token Collection)
Anchor and H - 1/2 penny 1816 »
#4 - $7,170 - 1820 Northwest Company - VF-20 ICCS
Displays little of typical wear and corrosion usually found on these issues.
The North West Company was one of the most important companies engaged in the fur trade during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The company began about 1775 as a loose partnership of men from Scottish, French-Canadian and U.S. backgrounds. By 1804 it was a well-organized business offering strong competition to the Hudson's Bay Company.
In 1820 the company issued both brass and copper tokens, each representing the value of one beaver pelt. These tokens were about the size of our present 50-cent piece and most known examples have a small hole at the top.
Recent sales
- 2022 - $11,950 - VF Details NGC
- 2022 - $8,663.75 - VF-20 ICCS
- 2022 - $7,648 - VF-30 CCCS - Brass
- 2022 - $4,182.50 - VF-20 Corrosion ICCS - Brass
- 2021 - $25,500 - AU-58 NGC
- 2021 - $9,750 - VF-30 NGC
- 2021 - $6,000 - F-12 ICCS (Sherbrooke Seminary)
#5 - $6,572.50 - Frances McDermott - UNC Scratch NGC
Finest-known (MS-63 NGC) sold in 2023 for $5,080. Issued about 1845-1855 and considered very rare. The Frances McDermott's firm have only been a short time in business and he used this token as a business card.
Frances McDermott - St. John »
#6 - $6,338 - Thomas and William Molson - MS-65 Brown NGC
In 1763, France and England signed the Treaty of Paris and Canada became a British possession. Sixty years later the mother country had made no effort to provide an official currency for the young colony. By this time several private banks were in operation and they issued paper money which served to facilitate large business transactions. It was in the market place, where the ordinary citizen had to make change for small purchases, that the situation was most keenly felt.
The metallic currency in circulation consisted mainly of British and foreign coins (French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and American), many so worn as to be almost unidentifiable. At this time several banks and a number of merchants began to issue copper tokens to meet the need for small change. One of these firms was Thos. and Wm. Molson of Montreal, brewers, distillers, shipbuilders and philanthropists. Their well-designed token bore the denomination of Un Sou and was dated 1837.
In 2020, another specimen sold for $6,156 (MS-62 Brown NGC).
Thos. & Wm. Molson - 1/2 penny 1837 »
#7 - $6,273.75 - 1 penny 1838 - Bank of Montreal - AU-53 NGC
From the Donald G. Partrick Collection. Another AU-53 (PCGS certified) sold in 2024, from the Ford Collection, for $5,975.
One of the finest known of its type (MS-62) sold 2020 for $13,770.
During the first half of the 19th century there was a chronic shortage of small coins in Lower Canada. In 1835, following a government decision to remove all the lightweight pieces from circulation, the shortage became acute. No official coins were issued but the Bank of Montreal and other banks were given authority to issue penny and halfpenny tokens like this one.
A NGC AU-Details (Cleaned) also sold in 2024 for $5,059. A NGC AU-58 example sold for $7,170 in 2023.
1 penny 1838 - Bank of Montreal »
#8 - $5,520 - Bust and Harp 1820/5 - F-12 CCCS
The multiple varieties of the Bust and Harp (Breton #1012) might be hard to identify or remember especially for new collectors. This step-by-step Identification Guide will assist you through the major varieties of this popular token and will help to associate your token with the right variety.
The finest known example of the 1820/5 overdate sold in 2021 for $12,850.
#9 - $4,780 - Un Sou - MS-64 Red & Brown NGC
From the Donald G. Partrick Collection. Restrike, copper, no collar.
Bouquet - Un Sou - Tokens - Identification Guide »
#10 - $4,481.25 - Ships, Colonies & Commerce - VF-20 ICCS
PE-10-36a.
The multiple varieties of the Ships, Colonies & Commerce Tokens (Breton #997) might be hard to identify or remember especially for new collectors. This step-by-step Identification Guide will assist you through the major varieties of this popular token and will help to associate your token with the right variety.
Previous years
Pictures by Geoffrey Bell Auctions, Heritage Auctions, NGC and The Canadian Numismatic Company.
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