Great Britain - 1797

½ Penny Token

(D & H 2b - Fifeshire; Burntisland.)
Obverse - Great Britain - 1797 Reverse - Great Britain - 1797
Obverse - A carboy between crossed sprigs of rose and thistle, surmounted by a mongram cypher BVCo in script capitals.
Reverse - An inscription BURNT-ISLAND VITRIOL COMP.Y 1797 in 5 lines, enclosed within an irradiated buckled garter bearing the motto NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT. of the Order of the Thistle.
Edge:- Diagonally milled.
Diesinker. Dixon; manufacturer, Lutwyche. Three cwts. struck. Scarce.
 
Comments. The token was issued by the Burntisland Vitriol Company. The principal proprietor was Mr. Pitcairn. Burntisland is a Royal Burgh in the district of Kirkcaldy in Fifeshire, about nine miles north west of Edinburgh, and on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. The rocks have the appearance of volcanic action, and this probably led to its unusual name.
 
   D&H 3 with VITRIOL spelt VITORIAL is unknown and is probably a typographical error in Conder's work, where it was first reported.
Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 251-252
 
D & H 2b - Burntisland
O: A cypher B V Co, under it a carboy between a rose and a thistle.
R: BURNT | -ISLAND | VITRIOL | COMPY. | 1797. In five lines within a garter radiated, on which is inscribed NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT.
E:
A. 2
Plain.