BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, WALES, Parys Mine Company,Thomas Williams, (1737-1802), attorney and businessman, part owner and managing partner of the Parys and Mona Mine Companies of Anglesey, Copper Penny, 1788, obv Druid's head left within thin oak wreath and outer border of acorns, twenty-two single acorns in wreath, acorn to point of hood, long stem on acorn over hood, four acorns at tie, rev P M Co cypher, 1788, WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE PENNY around within a border of acorns, long-topped P of PMCo terminates to right of first ascending stroke of M, curved 1 and 7, 1 just to left of centre of foot of Y of PENNY, second 8 under W of WE, edge ON DEMAND IN LONDON LIVERPOOL OR ANGLESEY (D&H Anglesey 90, this token illustrated). Minor marks, otherwise good extremely fine.
Williams effectively gained control of the entire operations of the Parys Mountain and, later, the Cornish Metal Company, giving him a near monopoly over the development and production of copper and the copper trade in Great Britain.
Estimate: £100-150