Broke tokens from 1814, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dumpdiggers with metal detectors sometimes find small coins in strange places. This copper token was unearthed behind a church in Uxbridge Ontario.

The artifact is identified as Broke, Halifax, Nova Scotia 'Halfpenny' 1814. Bust of Capt Broke /Britannia seated

Over 193 years old, this copper token precedes almost all other formal currencies in the Dominion of Canada. Indeed it was minted in response to a critical lack of species in the Atlantic region. It's interesting to note that this relic was not issued by a reigning monarch, or by the British Navy, but rather a consortium of enterprising merchants who hoped to increase commerce in the Port of Halifax. Dry goods importers, leather harness makers, clothiers and ironmongeries all had a vested interest in the local economy, and the largest of these enterprises may have combined forces to commission, distribute and honour the tokens.

When the HMS Shannon sailed into Halifax harbour on June 6th 1813 with the 38 gun warship USS Chesapeake in tow, it was a proud moment for every sailor in the British Navy. History records that this American prize was sold in Halifax in 1814 to agents of the Royal Navy, and Captain Broke and his crew received handsome bonuses.

Broke copper tokens appeared later that summer at the behest of unknown merchants. The designers chose to remember proud Captain Broke on the front of the token, and used Britannia to remind every colonist of the might of the British Empire. Minted in Nova Scotia in 1814, the token had little value by 1820, and was completely worthless by 1825.

Well not completely worthless... Why do you think this token was found in a church yard? The reverend Minister himself no doubt cleaned the collection plate of all such tokens and copper halfpennies as he walked from the back door of the church toward his manor house. Broke tokens were especially worthless in Upper Canada, miles from their point of origin - their only value was to make a loud splash in the pie dish as it passed the pew.

Sir Philip Bowes Vere Broke was born on the 9^th of September, 1776 at Broke Hall, Nacton, near Ipswich, England. He enjoyed a privileged childhood as the eldest son of Philip Bowes Broke, a wealthy man from an old family with lots of good fertile land on the Suffolk coast below the River Orwell. Born in the starch of the Napoleonic age, and raised in what would soon be considered fine Victorian tradition, all sons of Phillip Bowes Broke were enrolled in military careers and groomed for greatness at an early age.

Our man Philip chose the navy, and was placed in the Royal Naval Academy in Portsmith Dockyard in 1788, at age twelve. In 1792 when Philip was sixteen, he ventured out aboard the HMS Southampton as a midshipman. This was the second ship with that name in the history of the British Navy; it seems this particular 32 gun frigate was launched in 1757 and would have been a slow leaky vessel in the year 1797 when Philip distinguished himself as a Third Lieutenant in the Battle of Cape St Vincent. The twenty two year old midshipman maintained order and ship’s discipline during the dogged actions of the day – and after superior officers boarded one French warship with a prize crew. Philip was commended for how efficiently he oversaw the repairs to the Southhampton, and how well he satisfied the many requirements of the ship’s surgeon.

Philip Bowes Vere Broke was promoted to Commander in 1799, and became a Captain in 1801; but he didn’t get his own ship until 1806 - that was the year Broke took command of the HMS Shannon, a 38 gun frigate.

Six years later, Captain Broke was stationed in Halifax when war erupted between England and the American States. Broke sailed south and blockaded Boston, wherein he could see the larger USS Chesapeake.

After issuing the captain of the American warship a formal challenge (which arrived too late), the two ships engaged in single combat. The result was spectacular - Captain Broke of the HMS Shannon captured the USS Chesapeake after less than twenty minutes of naval combat. The American frigate was struck by 362 shots, while the HMS Shannon received only 258 hits. Chesapeake suffered early in the exchange of broadsides, having its wheel shot away. Without any maneuverability the more powerful American warship was helpless to resist Captain Broke's final assault.

It was a brilliant action - single ship combats are the stuff of legends. Bad news for Captain Broke however, he was seriously injured in the battle. He received a nasty head wound while commanding the boarding party in a head on assault of the Chesapeake's forecastle- some folks say he was never the same after the engagement. His career was set however and he sailed to prominence as a rear admiral without ever setting foot on ship again.

WHAT'S IT WORTH? In today's relatively healthy collectible coin market, a Broke 1814 halfpenny in absolute mint condition might fetch $25 bucks.

Relics of the Fur Trade #2

This blog series imagines Chester Huff's crew of Dumpdiggers working in secrecy somewhere on the north shore of Lake of the Woods (near Bigsby's original Rat Portage).

If Dumpdiggers unearthed a forgotten fur trading post, what kind of relics could they expect to find?

The second artifact in this series was selected because of its value in today’s marketplace. If Dumpdiggers were lucky enough to find just one of these items, it would indeed confirm their location as a genuine Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading post (and should probably be reported to qualified archeologists as soon as possible, Chester).

The first Europeans to trade with Native Canadians must have realized immediately that their gold and silver coins were worthless to First Nations and Inuit people. The indigenous people wanted blankets, copper kettles, and exotic colored glass beads. Above all else they traded for metal goods such as knives and axes. Prior to European trade they had only sharpened stone and sea-shell blades - these utensils did not last as long and could not be easily sharpened.

Eventually the beaver pelt itself became currency, and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) established a system that calculated how much one "made" beaver pelt was worth compared to other furs and goods so that HBC traders and aboriginal hunters and trappers would not try to get more than the standard allowed.

Relics of the Fur Trade #2

Extremely collectible, this token is part of the National Currency Collection, Bank of Canada.

Hudson’s Bay Company
‘One Made Beaver’ Trade Token

There are many different types of Hudson's Bay Company trade tokens, but the most coveted are the "East Main" brass tokens issued in 1857 under Chief Factor George Simpson McTavish for the East Main District (South and East of the Hudson’s Bay). This metal 1 Made Beaver token was widely circulated the 1860s and 1870s and would certainly have been used in and around Lake of the Woods.

In addition to providing more incentive to trappers to trade with HBC year after year, the distribution of uniform coinage with the company crest enhanced the Hudson's Bay Company's fiscal reputation. More importantly, the metal coinage provided HBC with a method of structuring trade at their posts; the ½ and 1/8 made beaver tokens streamlined the process by which fur traders could give accurate change to fur trappers.

The token is made of brass and stamped with the letters HB (Hudson’s Bay Company), EM (East Main District) and MB (Made Beaver) and the denomination. In fact, instead of MB the letters NB were stamped in this particular coin series due to a die-cutter’s error. This is another reason why this relic is prized above all others.

Before metal tokens came into use, locally produced tokens of ivory, stone, bone and wood were used at some Hudson's Bay Company posts. There is some dispute about when these brass token were first issued; the experts at the National Currency Collection believe this particular coin was struck in 1857.

I'm told however that Larry Gingras of the Royal Numismatic and Canadian Numismatic Research Societies,who published Medals, Tokens and Paper Money of the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1975, lists another date of origin for the brass HBC 'East Main' 1 Made Beaver token.

What's a relic like this worth today? Let’s have a look at a recent eBay auction of an HBC 1 Made Beaver coin. Don't feel like clicking away to eBay, well the auction closed at $600.00 US.

Relics of the Fur Trade #1

If Dumpdiggers unearthed a forgotten fur trading post from the mid 1700's, what kind of relics could they expect to find?

This is a good question that was put to me recently by a Kenora Ontario digger with a bad reputation.

Chester Huff claims to know a secret spot on the Lake of the Woods, some distance from the original 'Rat Portage' (referencing the 1821 sketch by James Bigsby), and boasts that he's now excavating the remains of the area's first fur trading post!

But Chester is a big talker (no offense Chester, you know you are) and I'm extra skeptical... yet even the possibility HOWEVER makes me contemplate this delicious subject in extra detail, and institute this blog's first serial post, RELICS OF THE FUR TRADE.

FUR TRADE RELIC #1
Hudson Bay Trade Axe

Trade axes are the most essential Fur Trade relic, and that's because the axe is such a versatile tool.

Native Americans used the artifact everyday for all manner of chopping tasks. And they had ceremonial applications, and could also be used as weapons. In the 1600s - 1750s these iron axes were imported from England and France by the boatload for trade in the colonies - later, cruder version were forged inside the blacksmiths shops associated with colonial forts and armouries. These relics are more primitive because they were hand forged; they were often made from a single piece of iron, heated and folded over a mandrel to make an opening for the handle, then forge welded together - this closure was sometimes referred to as a lap-weld.

Early "eyes" were round holes. Later the eyes became oval shaped, or tear-dropped and later still rectangular. Handles or helves were made by the natives, but there are first hand accounts of the Voyageurs or courier du bois relaxing against beached 42 foot Montrealers, whittling small hardwood limbs into handles by the campfire at night. Many axe heads bear their parent metalworkers marks - these are commonly referred to as "touch marks".

Touch marks are made by touching the axe head when it's red hot, and leaving a mark on the metal. Cast or factory made axe heads with makers' marks are often referred to as guild marks. The most commonly found style of axe heads known are the Biscay style, since they were manufactured in the Biscay region of France.


Many different sizes and shapes of trade axes were found in the underwater search conducted at Double Rapids on the French River out of Lake Nipissing in 1961, and are dated late 1600's to mid 1700's. One hundred and twenty some axe heads were found in crates in a sunken long boat by amateur divers. These finds were donated to the Royal Ontario Museum in August, 1964.

How much is a genuine 1700's trade ax worth these days? Well let’s investigate that... The very best way to track an authentic trade ax's value would be to find a genuine 1700's trace axe on eBay, and wait to see who pays what, (and where they live.) *Question for the comments: Would you sell a Hudson's Bay Trade Axe, found in Canada, across the border?

The Wise Old Man

While excavating old dumps, Diggers will sometimes pray to God for luck.

Not all Dumpdiggers are Christians, but in my experience, veteran diggers all believe in some sort of supreme deity. Passionate historians recognize and honor divine mechanisms that help them make sense of the stories in which they traffic.

Dumpdiggers love contests and especially online web challenges. You will find an interactive photo challenge on Dumpdiggers.com and links to All Canada Contests in the friends and alliances section of that website. This is because that website is the best in Canada at collecting and connecting our people with contest opportunities.

In the United States, men and women with metal detectors on the forgotten battlefields of the American Civil War carefully follow the footsteps of men with rifles one hundred years ago. Adventurers with shovels and brooms sweep away a century old debris to discover the remains of the Gold Rush.
Privydiggers honeydip the latrines of their ancestors. Antiques & Collectibles bargain hunters are also historians and often quite religious.

As mentors go, this Dumpdigger holds in high regard the old man.

HOW TO FIND A LOST DIAMOND The old man once found a diamond that had slipped from an engagement ring and disappeared into the cracks of an old kitchen floor. He re purposed the bride's nylon stocking over the end of a vacuum hose nozzle and vacuumed the entire room. The diamond appeared in the lint trapped in the stocking.

Mystery of the Brass Pet Collar

The Relic:
This antique brass pet collar once identified John Clegg's property.

The Mystery: Who was John Clegg? When did he live in Toronto? What did he do for a living? and what happened to GENNIE?

Brief: Twenty years ago, while digging in the bottom of the Hotel Novotel construction site in Toronto, (on south side of Esplanade east of Yonge St) Timbits found a brass collar marked "GENNIE" /John Clegg, Owner / 79 Edward St. / Toronto.

Tim states that he found the object twenty feet down below the sidewalks in the mud at the bottom of the piers of the old 1890s Toronto waterfront. When I asked him the age of the piece, he only shrugged and remarked that it came out of the bottom of the site and therefore had to be over one hundred and twenty years old.

My Research: Inside the digitally archived pages of the 1893 Ontario Gazetteer, I found a grocer named Clegg with a partner named James Bamford that sold vegetables at 19 St Lawrence Street. Check the left margin twenty names down. This directory lists Clegg's business as 'produce', and so I assume that means he was a grocer who sold farm fresh vegetables to urban consumers.

This 1895 Map of Toronto shows Esplanade as a busy harbour through way, and perhaps the source of much of Clegg and Bamford's produce. In the 1890s, Toronto's City Hall was the present day St Lawrence Market and you can see on the map that it enjoyed prominence in Toronto's harbour.

My Hunch: The Clegg family gave their pets ostentatious collars to draw attention to their legitimate existence in the busy street, and narrow lane, in front of and behind their produce shop . I also believe that poor Gennie suffered a tragic death late one night on the waterfront. She must have. A collar like that wouldn't be discarded in the lake. If Gennie had died of natural causes, or even if she had died of foul play, and her body was recovered, the collar would have been buried with the body in a proper grave on land.

Your Input:
This case will be reviewed later and all reader's input will be tabulated in the next report. Hopefully we can together solve the mystery of John Clegg and his brass pet collar.

A Robertson gingerbeer from Mount Forest

A Robertson gingerbeer from Mount Forest
Originally uploaded by roberrific

This is a close-up look at the 'branding' or 'the transfer' by which I mean the stenciled on impression on face of this 100 year old gingerbeer bottle that the Ace of Spades, Jason Hayder, found in the Meaford Dump.

Of the four examples of A Robertson gingerbeer bottle labels Tim provided in a later email, I like this transfer the best - the rabbit is the star of the label here, and it looks as though he can easily outwit the crossed rifles - indeed it looks as if this bottle represents the adventures of that rabbit escaping those crossed rifles...

The Dragoon of Cookstown

Earlier this fall, Dumpdiggers met knowledgeable historian Steve Graham, the proprietor of The Dragoon, a toy soldier shop at 8-02 Queen Street, the main street of Cookstown, Ontario.

The walls of Steve’s amazingly well organized military toy store are lined with autographed 8x11 photos of movie stars, underneath snapshots of these same famous actors as soldiers on period piece film sets where Steve worked as a historical consultant. Mr. Graham is a good talker and his best stories are peppered with anecdotes about British military history, and the realities of fighting and winning battles in the Age of Imperialism. He's a real treasure, and his passion is 100% genuine.

Steve Graham S.C.,C.D is a world class military toy soldier collector and dealer – his toy store in Cookstown is filled with thousands of little metal soldiers, all wearing the brightly coloured uniforms of the greatest nations in the greatest battles throughout history. He has models of historic British ships of the line, great American warplanes and famous German WWII tanks. One entire wall dedicated to all manner of military books and magazines. But best of all, Steve also collects and sells dug relics!

Steve has a large display case full of civil war bayonets, belt buckles and buttons that must have been sprung from some metal detectorists somewhere in his travels.

When asked to name his greatest prize, Steve turned and used a small key to unlock the top drawer of a desk at the back of his shop.

‘Do you know what this is?' he asked me, a sly smile growing under his mustache as he held out a horse’s hoof, complete with a metal shoe, and a brass plate nailed to the top on which there was a skull and crossbones inscription bearing the words ‘5th Dragoons'

What is it?

This is how a British mounted officer honoured and remember his dead horse. ‘His best friend no doubt’ said Steve as he pointed to a map of the eastern Mediterranean on which the great land and sea battles of the Crimean War were properly outlined.

The horse’s hoof is an equestrian military relic evidencing a code that once existed between a man and his horse - its testament to the close personal relationship between European cavalry officers and their mounts in the 1800s.

‘Was it customary for Dragoons to enshrine the hoofs of their animals killed in battle?’ I asked, and Steve shrugged ‘I don’t suppose it was customary mate, otherwise there’d be a whole lot more of them.’

What’s it worth?

When I asked Steve that unfortunate but essential question he said ‘Oh maybe a thousand dollars, but it’s not something I’d ever sell.' Steve's passion for history and military honour has affixed itself to this object; his honour keeps him bound to the relic as its sole preservationist.

The Charge of the Light Brigade - Steve Graham reckons its very possible the animal enshrined in this 153 year old British Military relic died in the disastrous cavalry charge led by Lord Cardigan during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. It's best remembered as the subject of a famous poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, whose lines immortalize the action as a symbol of warfare at both its most courageous, and its most tragic.