© ZacUK
© ZacUK
½ Penny Warwickshire – Birmingham / Mining and Copper Co.
1793 year| Copper | 10 g | 28 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1793 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Conder tokens (1787-1797) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 10 g |
| Diameter | 28 mm |
| Thickness | 1.8 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#78363 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 84% |
Reverse
A stork facing left standing upon a cornucopia
Script: Latin
Lettering: HALFPENNY PAYABLE AT
Edge
Inscribed and plain varieties exist
Lettering: BIRMINGHAM LIVERPOOL OR LONDON
Comment
A trade token of the Birmingham Mining and Copper Company. After the failure of various schemes to provide Birmingham with its own copper smelters, the manufacturers set up the Birmingham Mining and Copper Co on similar lines to the Birmingham Metal Co, with smelting works at Swansea. Its formation was part of the reaction in the Midlands against the monopolistic practices of the Anglesey and Cornish mining interests led by Thomas Williams.Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token ½ Penny (Warwickshire – Birmingham / Mining and Copper Co.) 1793 from United Kingdom is that it was issued during a time when there was a severe shortage of small denomination coins in circulation, leading to the use of private token coins like this one as a substitute for official currency.
