Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 32 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
o o o
I've got Sixpence
In researching and cataloging a large collection of Wright papers more than once I came across the expression "Halifax Currency", used with sums of money stated as £ s. d. Frankly, I had no idea what this meant. Having a curious frame of mind, I wondered about it and where I could find the answer. It happens that on my library shelves is a book "A Dictionary of Canadianisms" copyrighted 1967 by W. J. Gage Ltd., printed and bound in Canada. I don't think W. J. Gage Ltd. would mind me sharing with you the knowledge I found on page 322.
HALIFAX CURRENCY
"a standard of exchange which served as a system of account in colonial times, being officially adopted in Lower Canada and later in Upper Canada where York Currency had long predominated."
JOLLY JOLLY SIXPENCE
It took 40 sixpence to make a pound
YORK CURRENCY
"the standard of currency established at New York, where the dollar was set as equivalent to eight shillings, a unit of account used during much of the colonial period in Montreal, Quebec City and Upper Canada" (page 376).
Of course Upper Canada (Ontario) is across the Grand (Ottawa) River.
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In case you're wondering, it took four farthings (four things) to equal a penny.
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Early settlers in Wright's Town were apt to find strange coins in their pockets. Large coins were Spanish American eight reales. The smaller ones were half reales.