Description
ONTARIO Peterborough A. D. Fancher Billiards Good For 5¢ In Trade Breton 753 24.6mm brass 4.12 grams
According to Breton's Illustrated History of Coins and Tokens relating to Canada, Mr. Faucher, not Fancher, as it is on the coin, kept a hotel in Peterborough, but in 1885 he gave up and went to the United States. Of the checks, nine were found and secured by the Rev. Mr. M. Goodwillie, and the balance, about twelve, by Mr. Jos. Hooper of Port Hope, Ont.
The Canadian Antiquarian and Numismatic Journal (July 1885) reports that this token which has just come to light was struck in Chicago about five or six years ago and that Faucher ran a billiard saloon in Peterborough Ontario for a number of years but a short time ago he failed and his effects were sold out by sherriff sale. They report the token as being rare.
Obverse: A D FANCHER BILLIARDS PETERBOROUGH
Reverse: GOOD FOR 5C IN TRADE
It had quite a history finally closing as a bar in 2017. It had had 13 owners since being opened by Dolphus Faucher as the St. Maurice Saloon in 1865. Its last reincarnation was as The Pig’s Ear Tavern — or The Piggy as it was known to many. Over the years there were many names including the St. Lawrence Hotel, the Windsor Hotel, and the Bucket of Blood, and of course many stories. In 1952, country musician Hank Williams got so drunk at The Pig’s Ear before a concert at the old Brock Arena that he could hardly hold his guitar and fell down while on stage. Williams never performed and had to be escorted out of the city by police to protect him from the angry crowd.
