1820 North West Company Token. W-9250. Brass. VF-20 (NGC).，Holed for suspension, as issued. Mottled antique brass, rose-russet and charcoal patina, the surfaces a bit rough overall due to scattered pitting and light scaling. The in hand appearance is pleasing for the type, nonetheless, due in no small part to the bold definition that this piece retains.<p>The North West Company was one of the most significant companies involved in the North American fur trade during the 18th and 19th centuries. Founded in Montreal in 1779, it grew to be the biggest competitor to the Hudson Bay Company. This token was issued in 1820, valued at one beaver pelt. The following year the company merged with and into Hudson Bay Company. The tokens are believed to have been struck in Birmingham, England, by John Walker & Co for the Canadian and American market. Normally, these tokens are found very well worn and often corroded from having been unearthed in the region of the Lower Columbia River and Umpqua River valleys in Oregon.<p>Despite having been holed, NGC has assigned this token a numeric grade as it is believed that these pieces were issued as such for ease of use. Reportedly only one example is known which is not holed, that being the copper specimen housed in the collection of the Bank of Canada.，，
