The fur trade began almost by accident as explorers exchanged goods with the Natives they met while searching for a trade route to China. Soon, Europe's love affair with the beaver began and trading posts werespringing up along the St. Lawrence River. But control meant wealth, and some traders decided to go directly to the source rather than waitfor the furs to come to them. They headed west. The lure of the massive canoes transcended class and social status as hundreds of men climbed aboard to head into the unknown for months, even years. Paddling upto 90 strokes per minute, they travelled thousands of kilometres, circumventing perilous rapids by loading each man with 90 kg (200 lb) of cargo to carry across countless portages. Bear fat, corn and pemmican were their staples and they had little more than the trees to shield them from the elements and the unrelenting flies. Known as coureurs de bois or voyageurs, the 2005 22-Karat Gold Coin captures the essence oftheir adventurous lives- the spirit of those brave men who helped to shape a nation. Travel back to this magical- and defining time- in Canadian history!

The Historical Commerce serie includes the following coins:
- Fur Traders, released in 2005;
- Timber Trade, released in 2006;
- Fishing Trade, released in 2007;
- Agriculture Trade : 200 dollars 22-karat Gold Coin et 20 dollars Fine Silver Coin, both released in 2008;
- Coal Mining Trade : 200 dollars 22-karat Gold Coin et 20 dollars Fine Silver Coin, both released in 2009.

200 DOLLARS - FUR TRADE - 2005 CANADIAN COINS is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 25- GOLD, PLATINE & PALLADIUM COINS and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.