CVC & Collectables presents this 1790s Great Britain Suffolk-Bury Halfpenny Token is a classic example of British provincial coinage from the late 18th century. Cataloged as Dalton & Hamer D&H-29D, this Bury St Edmunds issue features the distinctive E: Coarse Milling /// edge variety. The token has been authenticated by NGC as UNC Details – Cleaned.
Token Highlights:
- Country: Great Britain
- Period: 1790s
- Region: Suffolk – Bury St Edmunds
- Denomination: 1/2 Penny
- Type: Provincial / Conder Token
- Catalog Number: D&H-29D
- Edge: E: Coarse Milling ///
- Composition: Copper
- Grade: NGC UNC Details
- NGC Designation: Cleaned
- Obverse: Detailed architectural view of a prominent building in Bury St Edmunds.
- Reverse: Open book beneath the inscription PAYABLE AT RACKHAMS, with CIRCULATING LIBRARY / ANGEL HILL / BURY below.
- Certification: Authenticated and encapsulated by NGC.
Design & Devices
One side presents a finely engraved architectural view associated with Bury St Edmunds, showcasing the elaborate detail for which British provincial tokens of the period are known.
The opposite side advertises Rackham’s Circulating Library at Angel Hill, Bury, with an open book serving as an appropriate central device. This commercial inscription directly connects the token to a specific local business and illustrates the advertising function that many privately issued tokens served.
Historical Significance
During the late 18th century, Britain experienced persistent shortages of official small-denomination copper coinage. Merchants and businesses responded by issuing their own halfpenny and penny tokens, which could circulate locally while simultaneously advertising the issuer.
Today these pieces are commonly known as Conder tokens, after James Conder, an early collector and cataloger of the series. Their enormous variety of merchants, buildings, political subjects, and regional designs provides a detailed record of British commercial and social life during the 1790s.
Collectibility
This Suffolk-Bury D&H-29D combines a recognized Dalton & Hamer attribution, the Coarse Milling /// edge variety, architectural imagery, and the unusual Rackham’s Circulating Library advertisement. NGC has certified the piece as UNC Details, indicating Uncirculated-level details while noting that the token has been cleaned. Find more alike here!
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