Rights Holder: Kent County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
TOKEN
Unique ID: KENT-6D7D62
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A counter-marked copper alloy token issued by the Anglesey Mines (Parys Mining Company) in Anglesey, dating to the period 1787-1821.
Obverse has a Hooded druid's head, surrounded by an oak wreath, facing left. Legend: None.
Reverse: Cypher of the Parys Mining Company 'PMCo', date above. Legend: [WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE PENNY].
The outer edge is inscribed with the words: .*. PAY ON DEMAND IN LONDON LIVERPOOL OR ANGLESEY.
Measurements: 33.24mm in diameter, 4.01mm thick and 26.38g in weight.
Discussion: These distinctive 'Druid' tokens, struck in both Penny and Halfpenny denominations from 1787 until the banning of such token coinages in 1821. They are thought to have been key in kickstarting the 'Conder' token manufacturing craze amongst British employers looking for a solution to the coinage crisis afflicting the country at that time. The Parys Mining Company was ideally placed to produce these token coinages as they had a surplus of copper and the cost of the material had dropped hugely.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1787
Date to: Circa AD 1821
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 4.01 mm
Weight: 26.38 g
Diameter: 33.24 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Milled
Completeness: Complete
Jetton / token data
Class: Other
Group: Other
Type: Other
Denomination: Token penny
Obverse description: Druid's head surrounded by wreath of oak leaves and acorns
Obverse inscription: (on edge) .*. PAY ON DEMAND IN LONDON LIVERPOOL OR ANGLESEY
Reverse description: Cypher of the Parys Mining Company 'PMCo', date above.
Reverse inscription: [WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE PENNY]
Die axis measurement: 12 o'clock
Degree of wear: Extremely worn: poor
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Folkestone and Hythe (District)
Parish or ward: Hythe (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TR1634
Four figure Latitude: 51.06468076
Four figure longitude: 1.0813883
1:25K map: TR1634
1:10K map: TR13SE
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: WAW-539925
Object type: TOKEN
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A very worn, milled copper alloy token issued by the Anglesey Mines (Parys Mining Company) in Anglesey, dating to the period AD 1787-1821.
…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: LVPL-A0F4C3
Object type: TOKEN
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete but worn, struck / hammered copper alloy token, issued by the Anglesey Mines (Parys Mining Company) in Anglesey.
Obverse: Hoo…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SUSS-77F5E3
Object type: TOKEN
Broadperiod: MODERN
A copper-alloy token from the 18th Century, this example is dated 1787. The obverse depicts a hooded bust facing left. The figure is meant to …
Workflow: Published
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618