✅ SOLVED 1793 Half Penny

[Muddyhandz]

Hello T-netters,
I found this 1793 half penny a few weeks ago and can't come up with a match. My internet skillz aren't up to snuff with some here and this coin may be an easy one.
It rang up as copper on my invisible vdi and the diameter is 28 cm across.
Just about to bag and tag it when I noticed lettering along the edge of the coin.
I won't post a picture of that but can tell you it reads: "For asylum for the oppressed of all nations."
Of course I assumed right from the start that it was British but after looking up the edge lettering, I noticed that some U.S. colonials have that saying as well.
I did a light cleaning on it as the soil was kind. Here's the pics......



Reverse......



It is not very thick like the later George III coins but not super thin either. That's all the info I can offer.
I appreciate the help.
Thanks,
Dave.

 

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[fishwhacker]

This is a shropshire trade token struck by John Wilkinson. Wilkson was a pioneer in iron casting and these tokens were most likely used to pay his employees or to advertise. Similar pieces sell for $10-35 (online) or more depending on condition, yours is somewhere in the middle, it has great detail but the fact it was cleaned does have some negative effect on any coin in the resale market. I think it's a great piece and a local buyer or auction would probably bring much more than what online auctions bring because the piece is so unique and old, great find thanks for showing.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I think the Druids head featured on a few English Tokens, not quite sure about this one, could be a Mule ....nice find though, and in superb condition.

SS

 

[Silver Searcher]

It is a John Wilkinson's halfpenny token of 1793 - Forge version first produced in 1790.. (Mule) Obverse Hooded Bust of Druid, In 1790, a new reverse design was introduced, depicting the Roman god of the forge, Vulcan, seated right on an anvil, hammering a piece of iron on another anvil. In the background on the right can be seen the masts of a ship. This allegorical reverse appeared on a large number of tokens struck during that year and over the next two.

The manufacturing history of these pieces is incompletely known. But a good many of them seem to have been struck at the Parys Mine Company's mints in Holywell and Birmingham, Matthew Boulton struck the pieces with the forge reverse design from late 1790 on to the end of the series, while John Gregory Hancock sr was responsible for those tokens with the Vulcan reverse.


And now for the forgeries. 75 varieties of the token are thought to be genuine and 57 are forgeries of varying quality. All tokens with WILKINSON misspelt are forgeries; also all tokens with edge readings other than WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY are probably forgeries or manufactured curiosities. The Wilkinson obverse also appeared with the following reverses and were either forgeries or mules (combinations of incorrect dies produced at the manufacturers for sale to collectors):
1. Female seated with mining tools.
2. Figure of Moneta seated with scales.
3. Cypher H M Co. and legend CAMAC KYAN & CAMAC.
4. Female seated with harp.
5. Harp with crown.
6. Britannia seated.
7. Female seated and legend BIRMINGHAM MINING & COPPER CO.

SS

 

[CRUSADER]

Its not valuable but pretty cool. I forget & won't look in the big book, but I think Welsh (ANGLESEY), copper mine.

 

[Muddyhandz]

Thanks for the help guys!
I'm not sure how it ended up at the site I was searching but it's an old coin nonetheless and early for this area.
Cheers,
Dave.

 

[Iron Patch]

It is a John Wilkinson's halfpenny token of 1793 - Forge version first produced in 1790.. (Mule) Obverse Hooded Bust of Druid, In 1790, a new reverse design was introduced, depicting the Roman god of the forge, Vulcan, seated right on an anvil, hammering a piece of iron on another anvil. In the background on the right can be seen the masts of a ship. This allegorical reverse appeared on a large number of tokens struck during that year and over the next two.

The manufacturing history of these pieces is incompletely known. But a good many of them seem to have been struck at the Parys Mine Company's mints in Holywell and Birmingham, Matthew Boulton struck the pieces with the forge reverse design from late 1790 on to the end of the series, while John Gregory Hancock sr was responsible for those tokens with the Vulcan reverse.


And now for the forgeries. 75 varieties of the token are thought to be genuine and 57 are forgeries of varying quality. All tokens with WILKINSON misspelt are forgeries; also all tokens with edge readings other than WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY are probably forgeries or manufactured curiosities. The Wilkinson obverse also appeared with the following reverses and were either forgeries or mules (combinations of incorrect dies produced at the manufacturers for sale to collectors):
1. Female seated with mining tools.
2. Figure of Moneta seated with scales.
3. Cypher H M Co. and legend CAMAC KYAN & CAMAC.
4. Female seated with harp.
5. Harp with crown.
6. Britannia seated.
7. Female seated and legend BIRMINGHAM MINING & COPPER CO.

SS

It's definitely a cool find, and I have owned a couple Wilkinson mules in the past and is a shame most have so little value.... but that definitely changes if something like a Brit. George counterfeit, or better yet something American enters the equation. Now only had that been a George head and not a Druid!

The link is sort of an apples and oranges thing, but will give an idea how it can change... and keep in mind a mule with George would in most cases be worth much more than just a copper which is struck over to be used as a counterfeit.

George III copper halfpenny 1770s CONTEMPORARY COUNTER FEIT, NON-REGAL. EVASION, | eBay