Catalog
1 Sou Misc. - 18 cherry leaves / 7 shamrocks
| Issuer | Lower Canada |
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| Year | 1836-1838 |
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| Currency | Pound |
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| Obverse description | A decorative bouquet occupies the central field, composed of multiple botanical elements symbolic of the British Empire and Canada, including maple leaf, shamrock, thistle, wheat ear, rose, oak leaf, and blade. The arrangement is rendered in high relief with fine engraved detail, celebrating the agricultural and commercial heritage of Lower Canada. The legend AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE encircles the upper portion of the design, with BAS - CANADA appearing in the lower field, all separated by ornamental crosses. A beaded inner border frames the entire design. |
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| Reverse lettering | TOKEN UN SOU MONTREAL |
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| Additional information |
The "bouquet sou" tokens of Lower Canada were struck privately in Birmingham, primarily by the Boulton & Watt successor firms, to fill a chronic shortage of government-issued small change that colonial authorities repeatedly failed to address. This particular variety — catalogued by Courteau and distinguished by its specific leaf and shamrock count — is one of dozens of die combinations documented within the bouquet sou family, a level of variety that reflects both the commercial opportunism of the issuers and the near-total absence of official oversight. Merchants accepted them because they had little choice.