Montreal & Lachine Railroad (1847-62) token
This specimen was lot 1136 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $1,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "CANADA, Province of Canada, Montreal & Lachine Railroad Company, copper Third Class token, mid-1800s, rare, ex-Oppenheim, ex-Baker. Rainbow-toned UNC (rare grade) with nice glossy surfaces, typical X-scratch in empty field below T of THIRD, popular design with beaver motif on reverse. Per Breton, it was inconvenient for third-class riders (like natives and workmen) to use paper tickets, so for them these special tokens were imported from Birmingham to be strung onto a wire when collected by the conductor (possibly after scratching in an X). The short-route Montreal & Lachine Railroad was the first railroad on the island, starting in 1847; by the time the bulk of these tokens were melted in 1862, the railroad had become Montreal & Champlain. Pedigreed to the Warren Baker Collection of Canadian coins and tokens, and to the Michael Oppenheim Collection (8/2019)." This isn't a coin, or even a token intended to substitute for a coin, but a check or ticket stub. We have included it because of the locomotive theme and the handsome design.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper, this specimen 15.92 grams.
Catalog reference: Breton-530; TR-3.
- Cross, W. K., The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 62nd Ed., Toronto: Charlton International, 2008.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 35, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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