Composition: 99.99% silver
Tirage: 15,000

150th anniversay of the birth of Alphonse Desjardins (1854-2004)

Alphonse Desjardins was born in Lévis, Québecon November 5, 1854. In 1897, he learned of the problem of usrious practices during a debate on the subject in the House of Commons. He wasso disturbed by the matter, that he immediatly set to worl on findinga solution.

Thus, it was on december 6, 1900, that Desjardins'first "caisse populaire" - or credit union - came into being. His model was an original combination of elements derived from four credit cooperative and saving systems in Germany, Italy and france. He further adapted it to the Canadian reality by taking into consideration the economic, social and cultural conditions prevailing in North America at the time.

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Afflicted with an incurable illness, Desjardins was forced to resign in 1917. He passed away on October 31, 1920. Today, 150 years after his birth, Canada boasts almost 1400 "caisses populaires" and credit unions. Of the movement's approximately 10 million members, more than half belong to the Desjardins Group, whose assets esceed 100 billion dollars. In the United States, over 9000 credit unions, with assets exceeding US$500 billion, seerve some 83 million members.
 

MAPLE LEAVES WITH PRIVY MARKS - 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ALPHONSE DESJARDINS - 2004 CANADIAN COINS is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 12- MAPLE LEAVES and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.