Victoria BC Trade Dollar

Canadian " Trade dollars" are a form of limited-circulation token. They were typically sold from tourist-type places for face value. While not "legal tender", shops in the stated area would agree to accept them, though most of course were kept as souvenirs.

I have about a dozen of them, from several regions of Canada. They typically cost $3 to $6 on the market today, though specific themes might be more valuable to certain niche collectors. Victoria, British Columbia, issued dozens of dollars with the same lamp-post obverse; I have one such, dated 1982, featuring the paddle-steamer "Empress of Japan".

The real collectable Trade dollars are the special issues struck in silver or even gold, and mintages for those are extremely low. I collect the MacPuffin Trade dollars from Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia) and so far in 5 years, I have only managed to track down 6 of the dollars struck in proof silver, which typically have mintages of 50 or less.

Serge Pelletier publishes a catalogue on Canadian Trade dollars. Look up Canadian Municipal Trade Dollars online and you'll find it.

If you like modern area specific currency, especially with .999 silver and gold, check out the Lasqueti Mint. Their coins circulate on the the various gulf islands and Straits of Georgia on the west coast of British Columbia. I have the silver dory and sea star coin myself, beautiful designs, with the dies made by hand.

http://www.lqmint.com/