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, Gilt-copper Halfpenny, 1788, obv Druid's head left within thin oak wreath, twenty-seven acorns in wreath, thirteen to left and fourteen to right, leaf stem on left springs from main branch above leaf, last acorns to left spring from leaf, second inside acorn to left springs from a leaf and is below the bust, third inside acorn to left springs from end of leaf, four acorns at tie, rev P M Co cypher, 1788, THE ANGLESEY MINES HALFPENNY around, 1 points to first limb of second N of HALFPENNY, second 8 just to left of first limb of H of THE, apex of second ascender of M of PMCo points just to left of centre of 8, edge PAYABLE IN ANGLESEY LONDON OR LIVERPOOL (D&H Anglesey 292). Obverse marks, otherwise extremely fine and retaining some brilliance, extremely rare as gilt.
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