H.B.C. "MADE BEAVERS"

Below is transcribed a letter that was sold on eBay, from the Hudson's Bay Co. It was an old mimeo (spirit duplicator, blue ink), apparently made in some quantity to answerquestions about the tokens. This is probably circa 1940s or 1950s. Parts are illegible.

"The largest of these four brass coins represented one Made-Beaver, the unit of currency used in the fur trade for many decades. It was equal in value to the skin of an adultmale beaver in prime condition. The other three represent 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 made-beaver.

"Before these brass tokens came into use, a made-beaver was represented by a stick, a porcupine quill, an ivory disc, a musket ball, or anything else agreed upon between traderand trapper. The trapper would bring his furs to the trading post, and the trader would value them in terms of made-beaver. About 1900, a large beaver skin was worth 12made-beaver. If the total value of the trapper amounted to 12 made-beaver, the trader would hand him 95 units of the currency agreed upon, and with these he would make hispurchases from the trading post. In 1742(?), a beaver would buy 3/4(?) lb. coloured beads, 11/2 lbs. powder, 5 lbs. shot, 8 knives, 1/2 yd. broadcloth, ? lbs. tobacco, and soforth; while guns with a 4 foot barrel would cost 12 made-beavers.

"The coins were designed by George Simpson McTavish of Albany Fort in 1854. The design was sent London with the letters MB joined as the HB, thus MB (ed note: showing theletters joined together on the flat edges). but the die cutter interpreted the monogram as the letters N B joined by mistake, so N B went on the coins. E M stands for East Main,the district on the East Mainland of Hudson Bay.

"The tokens were still in use in some districts as late a 1910, when they were valued at about fifty cents. The North West Company also employed a beaver token, specimens ofwhich are now very rare."