Double tournois, 1633
Copper
Minted during the reign of Louis
XIII, France
Found at the site of the second Quebec settlement
Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec,
Archaeological Collection
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
As early as 1600, the King of France granted a monopoly to leading
merchants or chartered companies to trade with the Indians for furs.
Shipowners and merchants from La Rochelle and Saint-Malo petitioned
the King for permission to trade freely in New France.
Champlain disapproved of the monopoly because it did not encourage
population of the colony. But he chose to compromise with company
representatives so that they would request that the king continue to keep
Champlain in his position.
