Description:
English copper token, 1792
Diameter 30mm
The obverse bears the inscription 'IRON BRIDGE AT COALBROOK DALE/ 1792'. The image is of a boat passing under a bridge. Above is written 'ERECTED/ ANNO 1779/ SPAN 100FEET'. The obverse features a man working at a winch and pulley and the inscription 'INCLINED PLANE/ AT KETLEY/ 1789'. 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 which became widespread during the period.