© Al Samples
© Al Samples
1 Penny Staffordshire - Bilston / S. Fereday
1811 year| Copper | 19.2 g | 33.5 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1811 |
| Value | 1 Penny (1⁄240) |
| Currency | Currency tokens (1798-1816) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 19.2 g |
| Diameter | 33.5 mm |
| Thickness | 2 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#183087 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 93% |
Reverse
Legend around and below denomination.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
BRADLEY BILSTON & PRIESTFIELD
ONE
PENNY
PAYABLE AT
BILSTON
S. FEREDAY
COLLIERIES
& IRON WORKS
Edge
Diagonally milled.
Comment
Samuel Fereday was born in 1758. He started out as a coal hewer. Eventually he and his partners controlled a dozen blast furnaces. He was said to have issued over 2 million trade tokens. He went bankrupt in 1816 after failing to obtain a French import license for 200 miles of pipe for Paris. After failing to get his bankruptcy papers in 1821, he went to France.John Wilkinson, in his 1806 will, nominated Samuel Fereday (of Ettingshall Park) as one of several Trustees, to carry on his works at Bradley, Brymbo, and elsewhere. Fereday soon relinquished his trust. Wilkinson's nephew, Thomas Jones Wilkinson laid claim to the whole property. After protracted legal proceedings Thomas Jones Wilkinson became bankrupt, as did Samuel Fereday who had backed him.
In 1811 Fereday issued an enormous number of one penny tokens featuring Priest Field/Priestfield furnaces. The tokens show three blast furnaces, and an intriguing large air reservoir is indicated between one of the furnaces and the blowing engine house. The engine house and an adjacent building have early examples of curved roofs. In the foreground are what are presumably ore calcining ovens.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token 1 Penny (Staffordshire - Bilston / S. Fereday) 1811 from United Kingdom is that it was issued during a time when there was a severe shortage of official currency in circulation, leading to the use of private token coins like this one as a substitute for official currency.
