Great Britain - 1793

½ Penny Token

(D & H 14 - Staffordshire, Leek)
Obverse - Great Britain - 1793 Reverse - Great Britain - 1793
Obverse :- Two clasped hands couped at the wrists and showing frills and cuffs, in front of an olive bough.
Legend :- ARTE FAVENTE NIL DESPERANDUM and an ornamental stop.
Reverse :- A packing case with a bale lying across it and a caduceus resting on both.
Legend :- LEEK COMMERCIAL HALFPENNY 1793.
Edge: PAYABLE AT LEEK. STAFFORDSHIRE + +
Diesinker, Wyon; manufacturer, Kempson. Three tons struck. Common. There are trivial variations in dies. D&H 10-15.
Size, 27 mm.
 
Comments. There is no indication of the proprietor, but Samuel suggests that it was a large firm in the silk trade, Ford and Phillips, who provided Leek with its main source of employment.
Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 160-161
D & H 14 - Leek Halfpenny
O: Similar to preceding; the top of caduceus points to last limb of R, the bottom to the Y.
R: Similar, there is a berry on the underside of first leaf.
E:
A. 11
As No. 11.