Description:
Birmingham and Dudley copper penny token, 1811
Diameter 33mm
The obverse features the central inscription 'RICHARD/ WALLIS/ BIRMINGHAM/ T & J.BADGER/ DUDLEY' with 'A POUND NOTE FOR 240 TOKENS' around the outside. At the base there are four flowers flanked by two dots and the outermost pattern is a full ring of geometric spirals. The reverse features Justice depicted with her scales and sword with various objects at her feet and the date below. Around the outside is written 'DUDLEY & BIRMINGHAM TOKEN/ ONE PENNY'. The Napoleonic Wars led to a shortage of regal coinage in the early 19th Century. From 1811 many businesses and companies produced their own token copper and silver coinage of which this is an example.