| Descrizione del dritto |
At center, within a beaded inner circle, a three-masted sailing vessel proceeding to the left with topsails set and masts inclined slightly leftward, rendered in fine relief. A circular legend surrounds the central device, with the date appearing in the lower portion of the circle. The entire design is enclosed by a beaded border. |
| Scrittura del dritto |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
| Legenda del dritto |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
| Descrizione del rovescio |
At center, the interlaced monogram 'RH' for merchant Richard Hurd is depicted in bold relief, enclosed within a thick, continuous wreath composed of oak leaves and acorns rendered in fine detail. The monogram serves as the principal device, occupying the majority of the field. The design is enclosed by a beaded border. |
| Scrittura del rovescio |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
| Legenda del rovescio |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
| Bordo |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
| Zecca |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
| Tiratura |
Accedi per vedere i dettagli |
Richard Hurd was a Montreal merchant who issued these copper tokens in 1814 to alleviate the chronic small-change shortage that plagued Lower Canada throughout the Napoleonic Wars period, when British regal copper rarely reached the colony in sufficient quantities. Private merchant tokens filled the gap legally and practically — the colonial government tolerated them because the alternative was paralysis of everyday retail trade.
Breton 990 is among the better-documented Montreal merchant issues, though Hurd himself remains a minor figure in the historical record beyond his token issue.