2020 $10 Fine Silver Coin - 350th Anniversary of Hudson’s Bay Company

In honour of the 350th anniversary of Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), a piece from its past was taken and paired with a present-day coin obverse. The result is an outstanding token replica coin that strikes a balance between then and now. The reverse design is a near-exact reproduction of an HBC trade token from the fur-trade era. Preserved in 99.99 percent pure silver, the company's classic coat of arms represents 350 years of history and symbolizes the evolution of a company and a country, of commerce and currency.

Incorporated in 1670, Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is Canada's oldest company. As the nation evolved, so did the company: its commercial pursuits were a crucial part of Canada's earliest industries and development; its trading posts became Canada's cities and towns; and its fur-trading empire evolved into the modern retail giant of today.

Design
The reverse design is a faithful reproduction of a 19th-century fur-trade token issued by Hudson's Bay Company. Framed by an oak wreath, the company's coat of arms features elk supporters and a silver shield with the cross of St. George and four beavers (one in each quarter). The crest depicts a fox sitting on the cap of maintenance. The company motto Pro pelle gutem (Latin for "a pelt for a skin") appears below the shield on a banderole. The obverse features the year "2020," the face value "10 dollars," and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Did You Know?
The corporate coat of arms dates back to 1671, but take a close look at the supporters on this coin. Are they elk or moose? It is said they were intended to be moose, as seen on the coat of arms today, but they also appeared as stylized elk throughout the company's history. In fact, not many Europeans had even seen a moose or an elk in the 17th and early 18th century, which explains the unusual appearance of these animals on early representations of the coat of arms.

Did You Also Know?
Signed on May 2, 1670, the original Royal Charter is preserved at HBC's corporate headquarters in Toronto. Until 1970, the Royal Charter included a clause requiring HBC to pay the British Crown a periodic rent of "two elks and two black beavers." The rent ceremony has only occurred four times since 1670: in 1927, 1939, 1959 and 1970.

• Mintage: 10,000
• Diameter: 34 mm
• Weight: 1/2 oz fine silver
• GST/HST exempt

Includes:
• 2020 $10 Fine Silver Coin - 350th Anniversary of Hudson’s Bay Company

Warranty Information:
This product comes with a 30-day warranty through TSC.