½ Penny Hampshire - Petersfield / Holland and Andrews

Reverse

Britannia facing left, seated on globe, her right hand holding spear, her left arm holding laurel-branch and resting on Union shield at her side. Date in exergue

Script: Latin

Lettering:
RULE BRITANNIA
1795

Edge

Incuse legend with the remainder engrailed

Note: varieties exist

Lettering: PAYABLE IN LONDON

Comment

This halfpenny token is one of a series of mules manufactured by Peter Kempson at his works in Birmingham. In the 18th century, token manufacturers often used their dies to their own advantage by striking “mules”, solely with the object of creating rare varieties which were sold to the collectors of the day.

Petersfield is a market town situated on the northern slopes of the South Downs, 17 miles north of Portsmouth, in Hampshire, England. The town is on the crossroads of well-used north–south and east–west routes and it grew in prosperity due to its position as a coach stop as well as its local sheep farming, and cottage industries of leather and cloth.
The town was founded during the 12th century by William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester, and confirmed by charter in 1198 by John, Count of Mortain, the later King John.

Engraver - Wyon. Manufacturer - Kempson. Proprietors - Holland & Andrews.

Note: as with many, if not most of the Conder series, this type can be considered a mule: the obverse is as D&H# 48, the reverse is as D&H# 49 & 21

Interesting fact