Wales, Anglesey, Parys Mining Company, Conder Token, 1793 AD.,
Halfpenny Token (29 mm / 9,96 g), copper, axes coin alignment ↑↓ (ca. 180°), ////// coarsely milled edge,
Obv.: hooded bust of a Druid facing left, in profile, surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves and 24 acorns, without inscription.
Rev.: + PAY THE BEARER ONE HALFPENNY / 1793 , around cypher of "PMCo" (Parys Mine Company), with date, "1793" above.
Edge: /////////
D&H Anglesey No. 450 .
The copper tokens of Anglesey for the Anglesey Copper Company were among the first of the eighteenth century tokens to be issued. they were issued as pennies and halfpennies.
In 1787, the Parys Mining Company, who mined copper ore — made a decision. They had the copper, and they had access to coining presses. Located in Anglesey, Wales, they were out of the mainstream. Little coin of any kind found its way there. They decided to make their own. Beginning in 1787, they produced Penny and Halfpenny tokens, of the correct weight, nice design, and a edge legend that stated they were payable in Regal funds by them. They were avidly accepted by the workers, and loved by the merchants. The mines themselves were important — there was now a supply of copper in Britain that had not existed before. Planchets for copper coins could now be made locally, at reasonable cost.