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England - 1797

Mail Coaches - AFH

Obverse:

A mail coach, rather clearer than No.16.

Legend:

HALFPENNY PAYA-BLE IN LONDON

Exergue:

TO TRADE EXPEDI.N & TO PROPERTY PROTECTION

Edge:

Plain.

Reverse:

The cypher AFH in ornamental script capitals within wreathed palm branches crossed and tied.

Legend:

TO J. PALMER ESQ THIS IS INSCRIBED with an ornamental stop.

Vern's Comments:

Diesinker, Wyon; manufacturer, Mynd. Common.

Comments. The issuer is unknown, but may have been Anthony Fra Haldimand, a merchant of 58, St. Mary Axe, whose name appears in the Universal British Directory of 1790.

The first riding post appears to have been organised by Cyrus, the Persian. The earliest letter post was established in the Hanse towns in the early part of the thirteenth century, while in England letters were conveyed a few years later by paid royal messengers. Edward IV established regular riding posts, and Henry VIII improved the service and appointed a "Master of the Postes." In the seventeenth century the posts were carried in a valise strapped behind mounted messengers who travelled at a regulation 5 m.p.h. in winter and 7 m.p.h. in summer. There was little further improvement until Mr. John Palmer, the manager of the Bath and Bristol theatres, and a man of private means, persuaded the government to let him operate a plan for mail coaches. The experiment took place in August 1784 when Palmer's coach left London at 8 a.m. and arrived in Bristol at 11 p.m. the same evening.

Palmer was appointed Controller General of the Post Office, with a salary of £1,500 a year, and a contract with a percentage on all letters carried, but this part of the agreement was not ratified by Parliament. Palmer met constant opposition to his plans from the Post Office Authorities and was forced to resign in 1792, with a pension of £3,000 a year. He died in 1818.

An annual procession of mail coaches was held in London on the sovereign's birthday when, freshly painted and with the servants in new uniforms, they made a fine spectacle, and departed on their respective journeys amid the cheers of the populace.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 113-114

England — Middlesex

D & H 366 — Mail Coach

Bell Pg: 113-114

O: A mail coach as before. HALFPENNY PAY-ABLE IN LONDON. Ex: TO TRADE EXPEDIN. & TO PROPERTY PROTECTION.

A. 260

R: A cypher A F H to J. PALMER ESQ. THIS IS INSCRIBED.

E: Plain.