1791 Token 1/2P Liverpool - Angelsey Edge Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 11, Musante GW-12, and Whitman 10510, this 1791 Washington Liverpool halfpenny token with an Anglesey edge inscription connects the piece directly to the Anglesey copper mining region in Wales — one of the most important sources of copper for the British token industry during the late 18th century. The Parys Mine Company on Anglesey, operated by Thomas Williams (known as the "Copper King"), supplied enormous quantities of copper to token manufacturers across Britain, and the edge inscription on tokens like this one identified the metal's origin as a quality guarantee and commercial advertisement. The obverse features a bust of Washington, produced by British manufacturers in Liverpool who recognized the marketability of the American hero's image for both the transatlantic export trade and the domestic collector market. Liverpool's position as a major Atlantic port made it a natural hub for the production and distribution of Washington-themed tokens intended for American commerce. The Anglesey edge inscription is scarce among Washington Liverpool halfpennies, as it identifies a specific production run using copper traceable to the Welsh mines, distinguishing this variant from examples bearing different edge treatments. The convergence of Washington's portrait with Welsh copper sourcing and Liverpool manufacturing documents the international commercial networks that made late 18th-century token production a truly transatlantic enterprise spanning American political iconography, British manufacturing, and Welsh raw materials.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The Anglesey edge identifies the copper source and manufacturer.

Cross References

Baker 11; Musante GW-12; Whitman 10510