© GT Foreman (CC BY-NC)
© GT Foreman (CC BY-NC)
½ Penny Warwickshire - Coventry / Kempson's
1797 year| Copper | - | 28.5 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | George III (1760-1820) |
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1797 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Conder tokens (1787-1797) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Diameter | 28.5 mm |
| Thickness | 3 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#325216 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Arms of Coventry, an elephant bearing a castle on it’s back. Above the shield is the crest of a cat, stagnant, gardant.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
THE ARMS OF COVENTRY
P.KEMPSON FECIT.
17 97
Engraver: Peter Kempson
Edge
Plain with incuse lettering
Lettering: ~~~~COVENTRY TOKEN~~~~
Comment
This token is one of a series of Peter Kempson Conders based upon Coventry landmarks.DH#261 & DH#263 have similar obverses; DH#261 has a similar reverse with no period after P and DH#263 has a different reverse featuring a left-facing portrait of Handel.
Interesting fact
The A Token ½ Penny (Warwickshire - Coventry / Kempson's) 1797 coin from the United Kingdom is interesting because it was issued during a time of severe coinage shortages in the late 18th century. To address this issue, many private token issuers, such as Kempson's, produced their own copper tokens to serve as small change. This coin is a rare surviving example of one of these tokens, providing a unique glimpse into the economic and monetary history of the time.
