2020 - $10 - 1/2 oz. Pure Silver Coin – 350th Anniversary of Hudson's Bay Company

In the 19th century, Hudson's Bay Company introduced separate coinage for its fur trade and retail activities. The metal trade tokens differed by district but the idea was the same: fur trappers received them as credit against future purchases made at HBC trading posts. The design replicated on this 99.99% pure silver coin is based on the East Main District (east/south of Hudson Bay) brass Made Beaver tokens issued between 1860 and 1870. These were named for HBC's standardized currency unit, the "Made Beaver" (MB), which was equal to the value of one prime adult male beaver pelt. The tokens were issued in four different denominations and sizes: 1 MB (30 mm), 1/2 MB (27 mm), 1/4 MB (25 mm) and 1/8 MB (19 mm). And each obverse featured the letters "HB" (Hudson's Bay Company), "EM" (East Main District) and "MB" (Made Beaver), although a few were mistakenly stamped with "NB."

Specifications
No. 177002
Mintage 10,000
Composition 99.99% pure silver
Finish proof
Weight (g) 15.87
Diameter (mm) 34
Edge serrated
Certificate serialized
Face value 10 dollars
Artist Susanna Blunt (obverse)