1820 TOKEN North West, Copper, VG8 PCGS. Holed, W-9252, Low R.7....

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1820 North West Company Token, VG8
W-9252, Holed as Usual
High Copper Composition

1820 TOKEN North West, Copper, VG8 PCGS. Holed, W-9252, Low R.7. A rare early Indian trade token, holed for stringing at 12 o'clock, as issued. The Rulau reference suggests all but two examples of this early trade token are similarly holed. Apparently, most of these tokens of "One Made Beaver" pelt value come form the lower Columbia River and Umpqua River Valleys in Oregon. The legends are clear on this mostly smooth, deep-brown example, while the beaver and bust are nicely defined for such an invariably low grade token. This example tests as 92% copper with low zinc content, suggesting it is the scarcer copper composition as opposed to brass. Faint pitting in the fields accompany minor verdigris, as is customary for the issue, since most survivors were recovered from the ground. The North West Company later merged with the Hudson's Bay Company. Listed on page 45 of the 2026 Guide Book.
From The Alamo Collection of U.S. Colonial Issues.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 956, Base PCGS# 662, Greysheet# 318)

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