1820 North West Company Token. W-9250. Brass. EF Details--Excessive Corrosion (PCGS).An overall satisfying example of this elusive issue. The surfaces are uniformly porous, showing a thick texture that is typical of most example, having been recovered from the Lower Columbia River and Umpqua River valleys in Oregon. Even so, the devices retain sharp definition throughout, with strong intricacy King George III on the obverse and the beaver motif on the opposite side. A few heavier marks are visible across the lower reverse, though these are integrated into the overall aesthetic. Desirable and technically superior for the issue. <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.