Reverse: On top, the face value. In the center, a beaver sitting on top of his log dam in the middle of a river. On the left, top and on the right, an elaborate pattern of interlacing curved lines. At the bottom, the year of issue, and “Canada”.

Obverse: In the center, the mention “Elizabeth II”, and the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Along the rim, an elaborate pattern of interlacing curved lines.

When trappers brought their furs to the trading posts, something was needed to represent the value of the pelts. At first, everything from porcupine quills, ivory discs and bits of wood or bone were used - anything that that the trapper and merchant agreed upon. As the industry became more sophisticated, trade tokens began to appear. As the two parties went through the furs, tokens would be placed on the counter. Once done, the trapper would use them to purchase goods from the store. Some trade tokens were square like this coin. Others featured the prize of the fur trade that also reigns as one of Canada’s earliest forms of currency - the beaver!