his marshals. The "consummate king-craft" of Louis, the strength of the kingdom itself, which, under Cardinal Mazarin, and Colbert as minister of finance, with taxes reduced and revenues increased, had just reached the very zenith of its power, were unable to sustain him. His popularity vanished; public opinion forced him to resign, first, in 1708, the ministry of finance, and the following year that of war. Yet even when most heartily detested by the people, he was still highly esteemed by the king, and by those who knew him best; and they never lost their confidence in his probity and good judgment. He died April 14, 1721, at the age of 70. He is said to have been of moderate and gentle disposition, yet, like many others who discharge public duties with fidelity, he was often censured for matters beyond his control, and had bitter enemies no less than warm friends. To one of his detractors is ascribed the following epitaph:

'Here lies the famous Chamillart

Of his king the prothonotary,
Who at billiards was a hero,

But as Minister a Zero."

CANADIAN NUMISMATICS.

PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.

[Continued from VOL. XVI, p. 11.]

CCXV. Obv.

KNOX CHURCH MONTREAL ·

Rev. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME Size 30 m.

R 3.

This token was used after the removal of the congregation from their building in St. Gabriel Street. The immediate cause of the removal was the unfavorable termination of the lawsuit between them and the Church of Scotland, which had been pending since 1846, when this congregation took part in the Free Church secession.

CCXVI. Obv. ST PAULS CHURCH | MONTREAL | 1833 E. B.

Rev. I. CORINTHIANS | XI 28 29 Shape, a six-pointed star. Size 32 m. R 5.

The initials" E. B." are those of the Rev. E. Black, who was pastor of that church at the time of the issue of this token. He was a preacher of considerable eloquence and of great influence during those troublesome times in Montreal.

CCXVII. Obv. ST ANDREW'S CHURCH MONTREAL A communion table inscribed DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE | OF ME. On the table are two wine cups and a plate of bread.

Rev. NEC TAMEN CONSUMEBATUR and a burning bush between two palm branches. Size 28. R 2.

St. Andrew's Church is one of the oldest Presbyterian congregations in Montreal; and when the different sections of that body united as the Presbyterian Church of Canada, it held out and still retains its connection with the Church of Scotland. I believe there was an earlier token, but not having seen one, I am unable to describe it.

CCXVIII. Obv. Communion table inscribed as the last.
Rev. Same as the last. Size 28. R 3.

The name of the church using this token is stamped on the obverse. with the name of ST MARK'S CHURCH in indented letters stamped on it.

I have one

There are a

number of other varieties of these tokens in use among the Presbyterian churches, but as they have no special reference to this Province, or even to Canada, I do not consider it necessary to describe them here.

PROVINCE OF ONTARIO.

Although Ontario is the most populous Province of the Dominion, its list of coins and medals is much shorter than that of Quebec. This paucity of coins attributable to the western Province, is owing to the fact that during the times when the currency was unsettled, and when the importation and issue of private tokens was not interfered with, her population was propor tionately much smaller and mainly rural, while the wealth and business enterprise was centred in the cities of the Province of Quebec.

CCXIX. Obv. FERTILITATEM DIVITIAS QUE CIRCUMFERREMUS. in incused letters on a raised border. Ex. 1794 A river god to the right reclining, with his right arm resting on an urn, from which water flows. In his left hand he holds a four-pointed spear. Behind him is a growth of flags, with fields in the distance. To the left on the ground-work PONTHON

Rev. ONE HALF PENNY. Within an inner circle in the field COPPER | COMPANY | OF UPPER CANADA Copper. Size 29 m. |

R 6.

This is the earliest coin struck for Canada subsequent to the Conquest. The execution of the piece is of a high order, similar to the better class of the eighteenth century tokens. Copper mining commenced in this country at an early date; but of the company here noticed I have not been able to learn anything. It is likely one of a series of evanescent companies that worked the copper-bearing rocks north of Lake Huron. Copper mining in that region has been for many years intermittent. There seems never to have been any issue of this token for circulation, as no specimen has ever been met with here in change, nor do any of the older collections include an impression among their lists of rarities. The only known examples are proofs that have come from some English numismatist.

CCXX. Obv. BRITISH SETTLEMENT KENTUCKY. Ex. 1796. The goddess of Liberty to the left standing, with a staff surmounted by a liberty cap in her left hand. Her right hand is extended towards two naked children, who are presented to her by their mother. To the left of the goddess is a cornucopia; in front of her a plant, and in the back-ground an anchor.

Rev. Same as the last. Copper. Size 29 m. R 6.

This is a mule-piece, the obverse belonging to the Myddelton Kentucky token,—a coin struck no doubt for some English colonization society. This, like the former one, is rare, never having gone into general circulation: they both are really English trade tokens of the eighteenth century, and are no doubt from the hands of the same engraver, as are the one penny and one cent piece of Sierra Leone, to which they bear a close resemblance. Proofs of these latter coins are sold at from one to two shillings in London, while the copper company pieces bring from fifteen to twenty dollars. If the dies are still in existence, as the fact that these proof mule-pieces turn up so regularly would seem to indicate, they have been carefully manipulated, to keep up the price so well.

CCXXI. Obv. LESSLIE & SONS YORK KINGSTON & DUNDAS. Justice to the right, standing with a pair of scales in her left hand and a sword in her right. Rev. PROSPERITY TO CANADA LA PRUDENCE ET LA CANDEur. A plow to the left, one bar connecting the handles: the lower handle is opposite the last A in CANADA. Above the plow, TOKEN; below HALFPENNY. Copper. Size 27 m. R 2.

This coin must have been struck previous to 1834, for in that year Toronto resumed the more appropriate ancient name, by which it was known long before it was dubbed "muddy little York."

CCXXII. Obv. Same as the last.

Rev. As the last, but the lower handle is below the last A in CANADA. Copper. Size 27 m. R 2.

Lesslie and Sons were for many years engaged in the drug business in Toronto ; to this they also added bookselling, devoting one side of their premises to the vending of literature.

CCXXIII. Obv. Similar to CCXXI, but there is a comma after YORK. Rev. Similar to CCXXI, but with two bars connecting the handles of the plow, and the clevis is below the first P in PROSPERITY. Copper. Size 27 m. R 1.

There seem to have been several distinct issues of these coins, as it is not likely that so many dies would have been prepared for the small quantity that could be put in circulation in a town of eight or ten thousand people, as Toronto was then. This was probably issued later than the two pieces described above.

CCXXIV. Obv. Same as the last.

Rev. Similar to the last, but with the clevis of the plow opposite the first P in PROSPERITY. The grass behind the plow is long and distinct. Copper. Size 27 m.

R 1.

Many of these Lesslie tokens still circulate in the country districts, showing that a large number of them were issued. The firm must have taxed their energies considerably in distributing them, and must have realized large profits from the venture.

CCXXV. Obv. Same as CCXXIII.

Rev. Same as the last, but the grass behind the plow is neither so long nor so distinct. Copper. Size 27 m. R 4.

There is one member of the firm still living near Toronto, but at this late date he cannot give the number issued, or at what dates the different issues were imported. They seem to be of Birmingham manufacture.

CCXXVI. Obv. LESSLIE & SONS TORONTO & DUNDASS. Ex. 1822 Justice as in CCXXI.

Rev.. PROSPERITY TO CANADA LA PRUDENCE ET LA CANDEUR. Plow to the left with TOKEN above, and 2o CURRENCY below. Copper, Size 40 m. R 5. The date on this coin has reference to the year in which the firm was established. As the name of Toronto was reapplied to that town in 1834, this token must have been struck some time after that date. The issue of this coin was considerable, although they are now scarce. Mr. Lesslie accounts for it in this way: the millers of that time found it just the size to use as washers, and as the metal was soft, it answered better than any that could be procured from the village blacksmith; many were destroyed in this way. Another reason is, that as they were of a denomination differing altogether from any in circulation in Canada, they were soon looked upon with disfavor, and were disposed of as old copper. The mistake in the spelling of Dundas may be noted as indicating that the dies were prepared by a different engraver from the one who engraved those for the Half-pennies.

CCXXVII. Obv. + GOOD FOR ONE COPY EVENING · GLOBE. Zigzag border with dots. Inner circle with a similar border round a large hole in the

centre.

Rev. Similar to the obverse, but the hyphen is shorter. Tin, bronzed. Size 26 m. R 2.

The Globe has been for many years the most widely circulated daily paper in Canada. In 1879 during Exhibition time, an evening edition was begun, which was continued after the close of the fair, when the price was fixed at fifteen cents per dozen. These tokens were struck to enable those purchasing their paper regularly from the news agent, to secure them at the proper price. Eight of these tokens were sold for

ten cents.

CCXXVIII. Obv. S ISAAC BROCK THE HERO OF UP on a pedestal, the latter inscribed FELL | OCT 13 | 1812 two angels holding a laurel wreath.

CANADA An urn Over the urn are

A space of three In the centre of the field 1816 with

Rev. SUCCESS TO COMMERCE & PEACE TO THE WORLD. millimetres between SUCCESS and WORLD. a radiated ornament above and another below. Copper. Size 27 m. R 1. Early on the morning of October 13th, 1812, the corps of Americans under Gen. Van Rensselaer, had crossed the Niagara, and taken up a position on Queenstown Heights. Gen. Brock, hearing the cannonade, hastened from the village of Niagara to dislodge them. He would probably have succeeded had he not been mortally wounded when leading the charge. His men continued the contest with varying success, until the arrival of reinforcements under Maj.-Gen. Sheaffe, when the enemy were driven across the river, after sustaining a loss of over a thousand men.

CCXXIX. Obv. s ISAAC BROCK THE HERO OF UP CANADA as on the last.

Rev. Same as the last. Copper. Size 26 m.

R I.

An urn

The design on the obverse is said to be a representation of the old monument erected to the memory of Gen. Brock, which was blown up by a man named Lett. The present commanding monument was erected about fifteen or twenty years ago, by public subscription raised in Ontario. It it much higher than the old one, and can be plainly seen by the tourist travelling on the Canada Southern Railway from Niagara village to the Falls.

CCXXX. Obv. Same as the last.

Rev. As CCXXVIII, except that the distance between sUCCESS and WORLD is five millimetres. Copper. Size 26 m. R I.

These tokens were issued by some firm doing business in Toronto. The Battle of Queenstown Heights was a popular subject with the citizens of that town; and the importer, finding that these tokens were readily received, continued their issue through a number of years. This will account for the number of varieties here described. CCXXXI. Obv. Same as CCXXIX.

Rev. As CCXXVIII, but the space between SUCCESS and WORLD is scarcely one millimetre. Copper. Size 27 m.

RI.

The issue of these tokens must have been a profitable speculation, for they are very light, not weighing more than half as much as the ordinary bank tokens. They bear evidence of Birmingham workmanship.

CCXXXII. Obv. Same as CCXXIX.

Rev. As the last, except that the tops of the ones in 1816 are slightly slanted; in the last they are straight across. Copper. Size 26 m. R 1.

There are other minor differences distinguishing these five varieties of what are termed the Brock tokens; but being difficult to describe, I have simply mentioned such differences as may be noticed at a glance.

CCXXXIII. Obv. SUCCESS TO THE COMMERCE OF UPP & LOW CANADA. A ship to the right under full sail. Rev. Same as the last. R 1.

Copper. Size 26 m.

The word Commerce seems to have been a favorite with the designers of the private tokens of that period; hence the frequent recurrence of a ship, the emblem of commerce. In these days, when foreign commerce has somewhat gone out of fashion on the Western continent, under the Protection furore, 'Success to home manufactures' would be the watchword, and the emblem a huge steam engine.

CCXXXIV. Obv. Same as the last.

Rev. SIR ISAAC | BROOK. BAR? THE HERO OF | UPPER CANADA, | WHO FELL
OF QUEENSTOWN HEIGHTS ON THE 13. OCT |
|
R 2.

AT THE GLORIOUS BATTLE

1812 Copper. Size 27 m. This completes the series of Brock tokens, which at one time formed the bulk of the copper circulation in Ontario. They are, although by no means rare, scarce in good condition. The name is an error, (spelled Brook on this token,) very likely one of transcription.

CCXXXV. Obv. . COMMERCIAL CHANGE. Ex. 1815 An Indian to the left, walking, with a bow and arrow in his hands; at his side is a greyhound looking up in his face.

Rev. HALF PENNY TOKEN UPPER CANADA A sloop, with mainsail and two jibs set to the right; bowsprit below the last A in CANADA. Copper. Size 27 m.

R 3.

The same obverse occurs on a Nova Scotia token, to which it originally belongs; the reverse is that of one of the varieties of the 1820 sloop token. It is not likely, therefore, that this coin was issued before that date.

CCXXXVI. Obv. Same as the reverse of the last.

Rev. COMMERCIAL CHANGE Ex. 1820 Two spades crossed above an anvil. Copper. Size 27 m. R 1.

Those who put into circulation these tokens, although they found their illegal issue a profitable undertaking, assumed the rôle of public benefactors by such inscriptions as "commercial change," "to facilitate trade," and the like.

CCXXXVII. Obv. As the reverse of CCXXXV, but the bowsprit is above the last A in CANADA, and the end of the water over the N.

Rev. Same as the last. Copper. Size 27 m. R 1.

These "sloop half-pennies" had an extensive circulation in Upper Canada, and from the many different reverses, it would appear that more than one firm was connected with their issue. Specimens are often met with in circulation, but owing to the low relief, they are generally in poor condition.

CCXXXVIII. Obv. As the last, but the end of the water is over the second A in CANADA.

Rev. As CCXXXVI. The handle of the spade to the left is under the R and C in COMMERCIAL. Copper. Size 27 m. R 2.

The commerce of Lake Ontario was almost entirely carried on in sloops; larger vessels were nearly unknown on its waters. This design was therefore popular on that

account.

CCXXXIX. Obv. Same as the last.

Rev. As CCXXXVI. The handle of the spade to the left is more directly under the second c in COMMERCIAL, and much nearer the I than the last. Copper. Size 27 m. R 1.

These varieties of the 1820 sloop token are so nearly alike that it is difficult to distinguish them; but still I think that I have pointed out differences sufficient to enable collectors to arrange their collections properly. There may be other varieties with more minute variations, but the differences are so slight as not to be readily distinguishable.