London - Islington, Robert Orchard Halfpenny 1798, View of the old Church with Orchard arms above,
rev. RO cypher, edge plain, 30mm/13.09gm. (DH 403). Good Extremely, small area of dark toning by tower, otherwise evenly toned with iridescence. Rare.
The medieval Old Church in Islington had fallen into disrepair by the 1750s and at some point, before the issue of this token, had been demolished and rebuilt. The classic Georgian church of St. Mary the Virgin stands on Upper Street and although receiving a direct hit on the third night of the London Blitz in September 1940, was rebuilt again in 1956.