The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Colonial Tokens. 4th ed.

Virginia Gillham is university librarian at Wilfrid Laurier University.

The books under review offer an invaluable set of resources most useful
as tools for collectors or for anyone wishing to establish the
legitimacy, provenance, and value of any historical Canadian paper
currency or any pre-Confederation Canadian coin.

The volume dealing with paper money begins with the history of its
evolution in Canada, recounting the struggle between the banks and the
government for control of the “lucrative right to issue paper
money.” At various times over the past three centuries, paper currency
in Canada has taken the form of annotated playing cards, treasury notes,
army notes, and notes issued by municipal and provincial governments,
the various chartered banks, the Dominion of Canada, or the Bank of
Canada. The introductory material details the various descriptors and
grades assigned to paper currency no longer in circulation, and defines
the characteristics that relegate a bill or note to one category or
another. A glossary of terminology, a description of the various parts
of a note, an explanation of the numbering system, and a list of
organizations “dedicated to the preservation, study and enjoyment of
paper currency” are included. The main text catalogues every piece of
paper currency identified as issued or in use in Canada, beginning with
the “Playing Card Money” issued to pay the troops stationed in New
France in 1685. Each note is illustrated front and back and fully
described to make identification relatively easy. A value range is
offered for each note along with a statement of its degree of rarity.

The numismatic volume is similar in format to its companion. The author
acknowledges that the volume is “not perfect” and invites input from
readers and collectors. Coins issued between 1794 and 1867 are described
and illustrated. A statement of rarity is included in each description
and a table of estimated values is offered based on the same system of
classification used for paper notes.

Coins are catalogued according to source (moving from east to west
across the country) and categorized under three headings: semi-regal
tokens (those issued or authorized by a colonial government authority),
private tokens (those coming from individuals or businesses), and
anonymous tokens (those with no issuer identification).