1794 LARGE COPPER HALF PENNY __Conder Token__THOMAS HARDY - TREASON__Middlesex

Description

15B130
FRASCATIUS ANCIENTS
A BEAUTIFUL COPPER ONE HALF PENNY CONDER TOKEN OF LONDON, MIDDLESEX UK DATED 1794
Around 1792, Thomas Hardy founded the London Corresponding Society, starting out with just nine friends. Two years later, on 12th May 1794, it had grown so powerful that he was arrested by the King's Messenger, two Bow Street Runners, the private secretary to Home Secretary Dundas, and others on Crown charges of high treason.
It was during his imprisonment that Hardy's wife died, leaving him with an unfinished letter declaring her love for him. The charges were prosecuted with Sir John Scott leading for the Crown, and William Garrow among the prosecuting counsel; while Hardy was defended by Thomas Erskine. He was acquitted after nine days of testimony and debate, on Guy Fawkes Day, 1794.
THE SIZE IS 28.0 MM AND 8.94 GRAMS.
DH 1024
OBVERSE – Bust of Hardy to left, name and date below, legend around TRIED FOR HIGH TREASON T. HARDY 1794
REVERSE – ACQUITTED BY HIS JURY COUNSEL HON. T. ERSKINE V. GIBBS ESQR
EDGE - Plain
COINAGE
In 1775 the British government ceased production of copper coins, both the half penny and penny. There may have been a sound reason for this, however, the lack of small coinage quickly began to hamper local trade and commerce. The Parys Mining Company in Angsley, Wales, was a miner of copper. Since they had the available resource (copper) they decided to produce half-penny and penny tokens by themselves to alleviate the local problem.
The popularity of the tokens led to other manufacturers, and was apparent by the vast numbers that began to be produced, and within a short number of years there were thousands of different designs in circulation. The edges of the tokens were lettered, so that the holder of the piece would know who had produced it, and could return it to the origin for redemption in legal tender.
Conder Tokens are named after James Conder who was an early collector and cataloged these interesting coins. They are copper coins (usually pennies and half pennies) minted by towns, businesses, and organizations of all types to meet a need for low denomination coinage that was not being provided, not being minted in sufficient quantity by government, or not making it out to the small towns. These lower denominations were needed to pay workers and make change in an increasingly industrialized society. Thousands of varieties of tokens were minted, many are beautiful and intricate works of art.
Because Conder Tokens were minted independently of government, the creators of these tokens had the freedom to make political statements, social commentary, honor great men, ideals, great events, or just advertise their businesses. Most were officially payable only in certain areas and locations.
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NOTE: Frascatius is a life member (LM #6864) of the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Frascatius fully complies with the ANA Member Code of Ethics.
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