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England - 1793

Success to Navigation - a Porter

Obverse:

A porter carrying a pack.

Legend:

MANCHESTER HALFPENNY.

Exergue:

1793

Size:

29.5 mm.

Edge:

PAYABLE AT BIRMINGHAM LONDON OR BRISTOL

Reverse:

Shield of arms, SIC DONEC on a ribbon under.

Legend:

SUCCESS TO NAVIGATION.

Vern's Comments:

BELL N^o 6 D&H 135a

MANCHESTER Fielding, J. (3)
   Obverse :- Arms: (Argent, a lion rampant gules, between three pheons sable) and Crest: (A ducal coronet) with Motto on a riband beneath the shield, which is garnished on either side with floral sprays, "Sic Donec." [These Arms and Motto are those of the Duke of Bridgewater, but his crest was: On a chapeau gules, turned up ermine, a lion rampant of the first, supporting an arrow erect or, headed and feathered argent. The coronet on the token is incorrectly shown as a Crest.] Legend :- SUCCESS TO NAVIGATION with an ornament beneath the shield.
   Reverse :- A porter carrying a bale of cotton on his back.
Legend :- MANCHESTER HALFPENNY In the exergue, "1793"
   Edge :- PAYABLE AT BIRMINGHAM LONDON OR BRISTOL
Diesinker, Dixon; manufacturer, Lutwyche. Common.

Comments. The Duke of Bridgewater was also Marquis of Brackley and Baron of Ellesmere. SUCCESS TO NAVIGATION refers to his famous canal from Worsley to Manchester; the first in Britain, and built by James Brindley, for carrying coal from the Duke's collieries to the city. It crossed the river Orwell on an aqueduct two hundred yards long and thirty-nine feet above the surface of the river, an engineering triumph in its day. Later, the Duke's canal was extended to Runcorn Gap where it joined the Mersey. About the time this token was issued a branch canal from Worsley to Leigh was under consideration and an Act was obtained in 1795. In addition to freight there was a regular passenger boat service on the Duke's canals.
   Manchester and Bolton were centres of the cotton trade of England, and a porter humping cotton was a common sight in streets.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 88-89

England — Lancashire

D & H 135a — Manchester

Bell Pg: 88-89

O: A porter carrying a pack. MANCHESTER HALFPENNY. Ex: 1793

A. 80a

R: Shield of arms, SIC DONEC on a ribbon under. SUCCESS TO NAVIGATION.

E: PAYABLE AT BIRMINGHAM LONDON OR BRISTOL

Success to Navigation - a Porter