Watch List notes:

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-five acorns in wreath, twelve to left and thirteen to right, single and double acorns in wreath, spur on last leaf stem to left, the stem springs from end of leaf, four acorns at tie, rev P M Co cypher, 1788, WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE PENNY around within a border of acorns, short-topped P of PMCo terminates to left of first ascending stroke of M, curved 1 and straight 7, 1 under second limb of second N of PENNY, second 8 under second downstroke of W of WE, apex of second ascender of M of PMCo points to first limb of E of WE and is close to second 8, upper loop of C of PMCo points between P and R of PROMISE, edge ON DEMAND IN LONDON LIVERPOOL OR ANGLESEY (D&H Anglesey 183, this token illustrated). Small amount of pigment remaining on the edge, a few marks, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.

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: £200-300