© ABC Coins & Tokens
© ABC Coins & Tokens
Farthing - Gloucestershire Bristol / Town
| Copper | 3.02 g | 21.3 mm |
| Issuer | England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Period | Commonwealth (1649-1660) |
| King | Charles II (1660-1685) |
| Type | Token |
| Years | 1652-1670 |
| Value | 1 Farthing (1⁄960) |
| Currency | English Trade Tokens (1648-72) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 3.02 g |
| Diameter | 21.3 mm |
| Thickness | 1.4 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#121783 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 70% |
Reverse
Sailing ship issuing from castle within inner circle, legend around.
Script: Latin
Lettering: THE · ARMES · OF · BRISTOLL *
Engraver: Thomas Rawlins
Edge
Plain
Comment
Bristol (Gloucestershire) town farthing token, Boyne-Williamson#12-20, variants below:B-W#12 - example as above (Withers#12);
B-W#13 - legend reads BRISTOL;
B-W#14 - no R below date;
B-W#15 - planchet is cast, not struck;
B-W#16 - dated 1660, no small R;
B-W#17 - similar, small R below date (Withers#17);
B-W#18 - dated 1662 with R below (Withers#18);
B-W#19 - similar, no small R;
B-W#20 - dated 1670, no small R (Withers#20);
An example dated 1660 (B-W#16):
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the A Token Farthing - Gloucestershire (Bristol / Town) 1652-1670 coin is that it was issued during a time of great economic turmoil in England. The English Civil War had recently ended, and the country was struggling with inflation and a shortage of coinage. As a result, many private token issuers, such as the Bristol Token Company, were established to issue their own coins to fill the gap left by the lack of official currency. This coin, made of copper and weighing 3.02g, was one of the many tokens issued during this time and was used as a form of currency in the local area.
