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England - 1796

In Gratitude for Mail Coaches

Obverse
Obverse:
A mail coach driving past at speed.
Legend:
MAIL COACH HALFPENNY PAYABLE IN LONDON .
Exergue:
TO TRADE EXPEDITION & TO PROPERTY PROTECTION .
Size:
28 mm.
Edge:
Plain
Reverse
Reverse:
Within a wreath, a legend.
Legend:
TO J. PALMER ESQ THIS IS INSCRIBED AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR BENEFITS RECE.D FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MAIL COACHES
Exergue:
In script: JF

Vern's Comments:

 

LONDON Mail Coach Halfpenny, Fittler, J. (?)
Diesinker, Wyon; manufacturer, Mynd. Common. There are trivial die differences.
Comments: The issuer is unknown, though there is a copper plate engraving showing a wayside inn, near which is seen a carriage and some horses, one of which is being groomed. The Mail Coach drawn by four horses is seen dashing past at speed. Below is this inscription: -
 
To John Palmer Esq. Surveyor and Comptroller-General of the Post Office, this plate of the Mail Coach is respectfully inscribed by his obedient humble servant, James Fittler.
 
   The cypher JF and the similarity of wording, allowing for the shortage of space on the token suggests that James Fittler may have been the issuer.
from Commercial Coins, 1787-1804, pp. 112-113

England — Middlesex

D & H 363 — Mail Coach

Bell Pg: 112-113
O:    A mail coach travelling. MAIL COACH HALFPENNY PAYABLE IN LONDON. Ex: TO TRADE EXPEDITION & TO PROPERTY PROTECTION.
A. 258
R:    TO | J. PALMER. ESQ. | THIS IS INSCRIBED | AS A TOKEN OF | GRATITUDE | FOR BENEFITS RECED. | FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT | OF MAIL COACHES. A cypher J F under.
E:    Plain