Brutus

Jim M · 07-20-2006, 11:38 AM

Ok you Token Guru's. What the heck is this? I also have another one similar that has the same sitting lady but it has a lion on the other side (its also dated 1813 and says Halfpenny on it). Pics to follow on that one

**De Orc** · 07-20-2006, 12:15 PM

The one with the lion is quite proberly a Walthamstow 1/2p the lady on the front is Brittania and Tokens were quite widey issued due to a lack of small change in the UK at that time, have not come across the Brutus one before. They were issued by private individuals (Shopkeepers, Landlords etc)
My avatar is a Token for the Parys mining company on the Island of Angalsy. to add to this you also had Gaming Tokens and Farming Tallies.
Sorry it is not a indepth analysis but I am only a amature at these

De Orc

Jim M · 07-20-2006, 01:42 PM

Here is the Lion one.. The backside is the same as the other one. (a little nice shape though)

**De Orc** · 07-20-2006, 01:46 PM

Yep thats a Walthamstow 1/2p there is also I believe a couple of others one that I have seen has the head of Mercury on it

De Orc

Aidan Work · 07-21-2006, 10:05 PM

The Walthamstow 1/2d. tokens are very interesting pieces from Essex.I have both the Britannia/Brutus & the Britannia/Lion pieces.There's a whole series of these pieces using this particular Britannia design.It must be remembered that in the late 18th Century & the early 19th Century,there was a massive coin shortage throughout the British Isles,so traders' tokens like these filled the void.

Traders' tokens are,in a sense,coins,as that is what their main function was.Here in New Zealand,there was a coin shortage during the 19th Century,so some traders did the same thing as in England,& had their own tokens struck.They are popular with New Zealand coin collectors.I even have the 1/2d. & 1d. issued by J.Hurley of Wanganui (my home town).There are a few rarities as well.

Aidan.