Wales, Anglesey, Parys Mining Company, Conder Token, 1789 AD.,
Halfpenny Token (29 mm / 12,30 g), copper, axes medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), incuse lettered edge,
Obv.: druid's head facing left, in profile, surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves and acorns, without inscription.
Rev.: THE ANGLESEY MINES HALFPENNY / 1789 , around cypher of "PMCo" (Parys Mine Company), with date, "1789" above.
Edge: PAYABLE IN ANGLESEY LONDON OR LIVERPOOL • x •
D&H 296 .
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.