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England - 1795

Chelsea halfpenny

Obverse:

A beggar with a peg leg presents a petition to Britannia who is seated with her spear held in her right hand and her elbow rests against her shield.

Legend:

CHELSEA *

Exergue:

HALFPENNY

Size:

28 mm.

Edge:

Milled

Reverse:

Hope leaning against an anchor with her legs crossed.

Legend:

THE SUPPORT OF OUR ENDEAVOURS

Exergue:

1795

Vern's Comments:

BELL N^o 3 D&H 277

LONDON (Chelsea) Issuer unknown
   Obverse :- A beggar with a peg leg presents a petition to Britannia who is seated with her spear held in her right hand and her elbow rests against her shield. Legend :- CHELSEA. In the exergue, HALFPENNY
   Reverse :- Hope leaning against an anchor with her legs crossed. Legend :- THE SUPPORT OF OUR ENDEAVOURS. with 1795 in the exergue.
   Edge :- Diagonally milled.
Diesinker, Arnold ; manufacturer, Lutwyche. Four cwts. struck. Common.

Comments. The issuer is unknown. The crowding out of the S in the last word of the reverse legend is a blemish in design.

   The Military Hospital at Chelsea, once a village west of London, provides for maimed and disabled soldiers and the inmates are termed "Chelsea Pensioners".
   The reverse design may be intended to represent Britannia relying on her navy, the anchor being the support of our endeavours. In 1795 the defeated troops from the disastrous Flanders Campaign of 1794 would have been back in England, and the obverse may have been intended to attract attention to their plight, while the reverse reminded the public that the navy, too, should not be neglected.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 97-98

England — Middlesex

D & H 277 — Chelsea

Bell Pg: 97-98

O: A sailor with a wooden leg presenting a petition to Britannia. CHELSEA. Ex: HALFPENNY.

A. 151

R: A figure of Hope leaning on an anchor. THE SUPPORT OF OUR ENDEAVOUR. 1795.

E: Milled

In D&H's notes:
(D) Arnold. (M) Lutwyche.
The issuer is unknown. There were 4 cwt. made, or about 20,600 pieces.

Chelsea halfpenny