Great Britain - 1795

½ Penny Token

(D & H 295 - Middlesex, Davidson's)
Obverse - Great Britain - 1795 Reverse - Great Britain - 1795
Obverse - A seated "Mistress of the Metropolis" with the civic sword in her right hand, rests her left on a shield charged with the Arms of the City of London, (Argent, a cross gules, in the dexter chief quarter a sword erect of the second) which is touching the ground, but partly obscured by a pile of fruit. In the distance on the left is St. Paul's Cathedral.
Legend: SISE LANE HALFPENNY with 1795 in the exergue.
Reverse - An equilateral triangle, its base balanced on a sphere and its upper side surmounted by a Royal Crown: on either side a hand couped at the wrist, that on the right having an ermine cuff, supports the triangle in front of an irradiated inner legend, "Br. Constitution".
Legend: KING LORDS COMMONS
Edge: PAYABLE AT THE HOUSE OF T. & R. DAVIDSONS
Diesinker, Hancock; manufacturer, Dobbs. Ten cwts struck. Common. There is a very rare variety, D&H 294.
 
Comments. Messrs. T. & R. Davidson were Pocket Book manufacturers with a business at No. 18 Sise Lane, Bucklersbury, London.
 
   The obverse portrays the dignity and importance of the City of London, with the Metropolitan Mistress guarding its treasures: the Sovereign's Chambers, the Emporiums of Commerce, the Conservatories of Science and Art and Religion.
 
   The Arms of the City of London display the shield of St. George charged with a sword which is the emblem of St. Paul, the Patron of the Metropolitan city. The City of London is a county of itself, though locally in Middlesex, on the North side of the River Thames. It was the capital of the Trinobantes, B.C. 54, and became the capital of England under Alfred the Great. Its first Charter was granted by William the Conqueror in 1079, beautifully written in clear Saxon characters in four and a quarter lines on a parchment 6" long and only 1" wide. Charters have been granted to the City by nearly every succeeding sovereign.
 
   The reverse shows the lustre of the British Constitution defended by the King and supported by the Peers and Commoners of the Kingdom.
Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 99-100
 
A heavily worn example in many ways, the edge is about 50% smooth and the central device on the reverse is difficult to see under high magnification.
D & H 295 - Davidson's
O: Similar to last, but the shield is closer to legend.
R: Similar to last, but the cross on top of crown touches IN of "KING."
E:
A. 212
PAYABLE AT THE HOUSE OF T. & R. DAVIDSONS.