Description:
English copper halfpenny token, 1796
Diameter 28mm
The obverse features the image of St George slaying the dragon and the words 'PROMISSORY HALFPENNY' with the date below. The reverse features a rigged ship and a fish at sea. Tokens such as this were produced from 1787-1797 when there was a shortage of regal copper coinage. This led the Anglesey Mines Company to produce its own copper penny and halfpenny tokens, a practice that became widespread during the period.