(售价 $9.0)

1814, Great Britain, Worcester. The House of Industry. Copper Penny Token. VF

Mint Year: 1814
Reference: W. 1264a, D 25.
Denomination: Penny Token
Condition: Lightly cleaned VF.
Merchant: The House of industry
Region: Worcester, Worcestershire.
Diameter: 33.8mm
Material: Copper
Weight: 17.66gm

Obverse: Shield with coat-of-arms.
Legend. CIVITAS IN BELLO IN PACE FIDELIS . . ++++ ..

Reverse: Inscription ("VALUE ONE PENNY") within wreath.
Legend: WORCESTER CITY AND COUNTY TOKEN . 1814 .

From the 17th to the early 19th century in the British Isles and North America tokens were commonly issued by merchants in times of acute shortage of coins of the state to enable trading activities to proceed. The token was in effect a pledge redeemable in goods but not necessarily for currency. These tokens never received official sanction from government but were accepted and circulated quite widely.

In England the production of copper farthings was permitted by royal license in the first few decades of the 17th century, but production ceased during the English Civil War and a great shortage of small change resulted. This shortage was felt more keenly because of the rapid growth of trade in the towns and cities, and this in turn prompted both local authorities and merchants to issue tokens.