Made Beaver

ARTICLE CONTENTS:  |  Links to Other Sites
Soon after its founding in 1670, the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY found it necessary to devise a unit of value that would accommodate Indian bartering to European bookkeeping methods. A Standard of Trade was established, based on the made beaver (one prime beaver skin in good condition). Prices of all goods were set in Made Beaver. Later the HBC issued brass tokens in denominations of one Made Beaver and fractions thereof.

See also FUR TRADE.

Made Beaver Coin
Made Beaver Coin
Hudson's Bay Company brass made beaver from the Eastmain district (photo by James Zagon/courtesy Currency Museum, Bank of Canada).

Author JENNIFER S.H. BROWN


Links to Other Sites
Glossary: Hudson’s Bay Company
A bilingual glossary of key terms found the Hudson’s Bay Company records. From the website for the Hudson's Bay Company Archives. A PDF file.

HBC fur trade tokens
See an illustrated history of trade tokens that were the earliest currency used in the fur trade in Canadian territory. From the Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Government of Manitoba.

Good for One Half Made Beaver
See an image of a 19th century brass Made Beaver token from the McCord Museum website.

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