© 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#335806 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 94% |
Reverse
Shield of arms of Coventry, an elephant bearing a castle on it’s back, dividing date below. Above the shield is the crest of a cat, stagnant, gardant, legend around.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
THE ARMS OF COVENTRY
P KEMPSON FECIT.
17 97
Engraver: Peter Kempson
Edge
Plain with incuse lettering
Note: plain edge variety exists (see below)
Lettering: ~~~~ COVENTRY ~~~ TOKEN
Comment
This token is one of a series of Peter Kempson Conders based upon Coventry landmarks.The County Hall on Cuckoo Lane, which was designed by Samuel Eglinton, opened in 1783, which differs to the coin saying erected 1784. Land adjacent to the building was used as a gaol; the Prison Governor's House is still attached to the building . Coventry ceased to be a county in its own right under the Boundary Act 1847, although the building continued to be used as a county court. Its most notable case was in 1849 which resulted in the hanging of Mary Ball (who had been found guilty of poisoning her husband) outside the court. This turned out to be the last public execution in Coventry, an event which attracted over 20,000 spectators. The courts moved to their current site on Much Park Street in 1988 and the building lay empty until it was bought for use as a bar in 2000. The interior was redesigned although aspects of the courthouse such as the judge's chair and public gallery were left untouched.
Reference from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Hall,_Coventry
A number of varieties of this coin exist as follows:
DH#289 - Obverse same. Reverse the letters on of Kempson are position over the date
DH#290 - Obverse same. Reverse is a 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 example of a privately issued token that was used as an alternative to official currency during that time.
