1793 LARGE COPPER HALF PENNY ___Conder Token___COVENTRY UK____Lady Godiva

Description

15B209
FRASCATIUS ANCIENTS
A BEAUTIFUL COPPER ONE HALF PENNY CONDER TOKEN OF COVENTRY WARWICKSHIRE UK DATED 1792
The tale has been embellished over the centuries, but the plot remains the same: Leofric refuses Godiva’s entreaties to lower the taxes on the oppressed residents of Coventry. One day, though, Leofric gives in, saying he’ll cut taxes if she rides naked through the town at midday.
In a report on the historic person, the BBC wrote, “The rest of the story is not documented at all, but it is said that so great was her compassion for the people of Coventry that Godiva overcame her horror of doing this. She ordered the people to remain indoors with their windows and doors barred. Loosening her long hair to cover her as a cloak, she mounted her waiting horse.
“Then she rode through the silent streets unseen by the people, who had obeyed her command because of their respect for her.”
THE SIZE IS 29.3 MM AND 9.53 GRAMS.
OBVERSE – Lady Godiva side-saddle on horseback, legend above, date in exergue PRO BONO PUBLICO 1793
REVERSE – Elephant with castle tower on back, legend above COVENTRY HALFPENNY
EDGE - Diagonally Milled
COINAGE
In 1775 the British government ceased production of copper coins, both the half penny and penny. There may have been a sound reason for this, however, the lack of small coinage quickly began to hamper local trade and commerce. The Parys Mining Company in Angsley, Wales, was a miner of copper. Since they had the available resource (copper) they decided to produce half-penny and penny tokens by themselves to alleviate the local problem.
The popularity of the tokens led to other manufacturers, and was apparent by the vast numbers that began to be produced, and within a short number of years there were thousands of different designs in circulation. The edges of the tokens were lettered, so that the holder of the piece would know who had produced it, and could return it to the origin for redemption in legal tender.
Conder Tokens are named after James Conder who was an early collector and cataloged these interesting coins. They are copper coins (usually pennies and half pennies) minted by towns, businesses, and organizations of all types to meet a need for low denomination coinage that was not being provided, not being minted in sufficient quantity by government, or not making it out to the small towns. These lower denominations were needed to pay workers and make change in an increasingly industrialized society. Thousands of varieties of tokens were minted, many are beautiful and intricate works of art.
Because Conder Tokens were minted independently of government, the creators of these tokens had the freedom to make political statements, social commentary, honor great men, ideals, great events, or just advertise their businesses. Most were officially payable only in certain areas and locations.
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NOTE: Frascatius is a life member (LM #6864) of the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Frascatius fully complies with the ANA Member Code of Ethics.
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