© apuking (CC BY-SA)
© apuking (CC BY-SA)
½ Penny Lancashire - Lancaster / D. Eccleston
1794 year| Copper | 10.2 g | 29 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1794 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Conder tokens (1787-1797) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 10.2 g |
| Diameter | 29 mm |
| Thickness | 2 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#43802 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 81% |
Reverse
Full-rigged ship, with a plow in the foreground
Script: Latin
Lettering:
THE LANCASHIRE HALFPENNY
AGRICULT. MANUFACT. & COMMERCE
1794
Engraver: Noël-Alexandre Ponthon
Edge
Inscripted.
NOTE: varieties exist
Lettering: PAYABLE IN LANCASTER LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER
Comment
The Lancashire Halfpenny is significant because it was the first large-scale use of the broad rim with incuse legends, followed immediately by the forty-eighth and ninety-sixth rupee coins struck for Madras in December 1794. These design elements were then later used for the Cartwheel coins of 1797. The DH#58 variety without the period after 'COMMERCE' is due to polished dies, by which the finer lines of the design have been erased.Eccleston was an eccentric coin and medal collector who lived in Queen Street, Lancaster. He struck a large medallion featuring George Washington and presented it to the American Government and the Emperor of Russia along with other heads of state. He made and lost a fortune and his last act was to write a letter from the grave after his death.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token ½ Penny (Lancashire - Lancaster / D. Eccleston) 1794 from United Kingdom is that it was issued during a time of severe coinage shortages in the country. The coin was minted by a private individual, D. Eccleston, and was one of many tokens issued by local merchants and traders to address the lack of official currency. This coin, in particular, was used in the Lancashire region and features an image of a castle on one side and a crown on the other. Despite its small denomination, the coin was made of copper, which was a valuable material at the time, reflecting the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the people who created it.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1794 | 109000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for ½ Penny (Lancashire - Lancaster / D. Eccleston) 1794 coin.
