© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
½ Penny Richard Hurd
1814 year| Copper | 5.5 g | 28.1 mm |
| Issuer | Lower Canada (Canadian provinces) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1814 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Pound |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 5.5 g |
| Diameter | 28.1 mm |
| Thickness | 1 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#78494 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 82% |
Reverse
A monogram of Richard Hurd within a thick continuous wreath composed of oak leaves and acorns. Beaded border
Lettering: R H
Engraver: Thomas Halliday
Edge
Plain
Comment
Diameter: 28.0 - 28.2mmLC-51A1 8.5 grams, Thick flan, engrailed, Coin alignment
LC-51A2 5.5 grams, Thin flan, plain, Coin alignment
LC-51A3 5.5 grams, Thin flan, Medal alignment
One of the colonial Canadian "ship" halfpenny or penny trade tokens. Not many have wreath reverses. The "R H" monogram has been attributed to Montreal merchant Richard Hurd. Tokens of this design were struck in farthing, halfpenny, and penny sizes. The halfpenny is roughly the size of a U.S. large cent.
Under tokens of Lower Canada, Charlton lists the 1812-1814 farthing, halfpenny and penny tokens of Richard Hurd "Thomas Halliday designed this series for use in England. The farthing and penny did not circulate in Canada but were imported by collectors after 1870. Of the halfpenny denomination only the plain edge, light weight specimens were imported by Richard Hurd, a Montreal merchant, for use in Canada".
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token ½ Penny (Richard Hurd) 1814 from Lower Canada (Canadian provinces) made of Copper weighing 5.5 g is that it was used as a substitute for the official Canadian currency, the Canadian penny, during a time of currency shortage in the early 19th century.
