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 Halfpenny (8), 1788, all edge PAYABLE IN ANGLESEY LONDON OR LIVERPOOL, obv Druid's head left within thin oak wreath, twenty-five acorns in wreath, two spurs on left hand leaf stem, upper spur on leaf-stem inward, lower spur below the bust (2), rev P M Co cypher, 1788, THE ANGLESEY MINES HALFPENNY, 1 points just to left of first limb of second N of HALFPENNY, apex of second ascender of M of PMCo points between 8 8 of date (Atkins p.277, 156; D&H Anglesey 304); rev wide date, acorn stop pointing to start legend (Atkins p.278, 174; D&H Anglesey 305); obv two spurs on left hand leaf stem, rev acorn stop pointing to the start of legend, 1 points to second limb of second N of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.278, 173; D&H Anglesey 307); obv inside spur in line with base of bust, rev 1 points to second limb of second N of HALFPENNY (D&H Anglesey 308); obv inside spur on main branch above acorn, rev 1 points to first limb of second N of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.277, 167; D&H Anglesey 309); obv one spur on left hand leaf stem points inward, spur in line with base of bust, rev 1 points between N and Y of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.277, 153; D&H Anglesey 310); obv long leaf stem, two projecting hairs in the beard, which touch the wreath (2), rev 1 points to first limb of second N of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.277, 159; D&H Anglesey 311); rev 1 points between N's of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.278, 171; D&H Anglesey 312). Generally extremely fine to good extremely fine, D&H 308 with a little verdigris on the reverse but very rare. (8)
D&H 305 ex Hamer Collection
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: £150-250