Coins of the Magdalen Islands
Encyclopedia
The Magdalen Islands
had only one coin - a 1 Penny token issued in 1815 by Sir Isaac Coffin
.
The obverse
of the coin depicts a seal on an ice floe. It is inscribed 'MAGDALEN ISLAND TOKEN 1815'. The reverse of the coin depicts two gutted fish similar to that depicted on 1/2d. tokens from Prince Edward Island
. The reverse inscription is 'SUCCESS TO THE FISHERIES', which refers to the fishing industry
essential to the islands' economy.
This coin is very sought after by collectors of British Empire
coins, not just those of Canada
, as this piece is very rare.
Magdalen Islands
The Magdalen Islands form a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with a land area of . Though closer to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, the islands form part of the Canadian province of Quebec....
had only one coin - a 1 Penny token issued in 1815 by Sir Isaac Coffin
Sir Isaac Coffin, 1st Baronet
Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, 1st Baronet GCH was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the American War of Independence and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
.
The obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
of the coin depicts a seal on an ice floe. It is inscribed 'MAGDALEN ISLAND TOKEN 1815'. The reverse of the coin depicts two gutted fish similar to that depicted on 1/2d. tokens from Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. The reverse inscription is 'SUCCESS TO THE FISHERIES', which refers to the fishing industry
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
essential to the islands' economy.
This coin is very sought after by collectors of British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
coins, not just those of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as this piece is very rare.