Brass. 35mm. 8.4 grams. Scheme devised by HBC Post Manager James Watt to grow the rapidly declining beaver population at the Rupert's House post. A quota system was put in place in 1940. Indigenous trappers brought their beaver pelts in to the HBC post, and the pelts were assigned a token. They were then shipped to Quebec, where they were auctioned off to the highest bidder. The trappers would then receive a credit by check for the value realized. This piece does not have the trapper's number on the reverse. It retains its original luster within the legends. A reddish stain occurs at the lower obverse, but otherwise clean and attractive. A very scarce token and a fantastic piece of fur trading history.

See Donald M. Stewart’s 1984 article on the Beaver Preserve tokens here.