2019 Nova Scotia Penny 1oz Silver Proof Coin

CANADA
The Nova Scotia Penny
(1824)

Before the Canadian Confederation which unified the country in 1867, several individual provinces issued their own coinage. Nova Scotia produced half penny tokens, penny tokens, half cents, and one cent coins.

Nova Scotia proved to be vitally important in deciding whether Britain or France would be the dominant Imperial power in Canada. It’s strategically important position at the head of the St Lawrence waterway meant that it would frequently change hands as both sides fought for supremacy in the area.

After the Spanish Succession War, the English were to keep Nova Scotia as part of the Treaty of Utrecht. The French were to retain the two islands of Prince Edward and Cape Breton. On this latter island, the French built the formidable Fort Louisbourg to try and keep the St Lawrence waterways open.

This fortress was finally to fall in the Seven Years War that would mark the end of French power throughout Canada and the transfer of Canada to Queen Victoria’s Empire.