Canada 1815 1/2 penny token
The first specimen was lot 3718 in Stephen Album sale 38 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2020), where it sold for $59.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "CANADA: Lower Canada, AE halfpenny, 1815, clockwise wreath variety, Britannia seated left surrounded by wreath of oak leaves // small eagle looking right, holding in talons an olive branch and arrows, cleaned, PCGS graded Unc details, ex Dr. Axel Wahlstedt Collection." The second specimen was lot 70404 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[2] noted, "CANADA. Lower Canada. Britannia. Copper 1/2 Penny Token, 1815. PCGS MS-62 Brown. Obverse: Britannia seated left, holding olive branch in extended hand and trident; Reverse: Eagle in flight facing, head right, clutching arrows within left talons and olive branch in right talons. This specimen offers up an attractive coffee color and very little evidence of technical wear. A slightly soft strike coupled with a few spots make the grade. From the Collection of Richard Rossa, formerly of Rossa and Tanenbaum." The third specimen was lot 76248 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2025), where it sold for $85. The catalog description[3] noted, "CANADA. Lower Canada. Copper 1/2 Penny Token, 1815. PCGS EF-45. From the Richard August Collection." This token was issued decades before regular coinage was issued for Canada.
Specification: copper.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Catalog reference: LC-54D2, B-994. The third specimen is BR-1004; Char-LC-56B1.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 38, featuring the Dabestani Collection of Persian Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- [3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, November 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Links to:
- Lower Canada 1812 1/2 penny token, Wellington, restorer of Portugal
- Lower Canada (1813) 1/2 penny token Wellington
- Nova Scotia 1813 1/2 penny token
- Nova Scotia 1814 1/2 penny token
- Halifax 1815 1/2 penny token
- Prince Edward Island 1815 half penny token, "SHIPS COLONIES & COMMERCE"
- Magdalen Island 1815 penny token
- Canada 1820 1/2 penny token "blacksmith"
- Canada 1833 1/2 penny token
- Coins and currency dated 1815