Back

Great Britain - 1811

West Wheal Fortune Mine penny

Obverse:

The Prince of Wales' feathers.

Legend:

WEST WHEAL FORTUNE

Exergue:

• ONE PENNY TOKEN •

Size:

34.6 mm.

Edge:

center grained backslash

Reverse:

A view of St. Michael's Mount.

Legend:

CORNISH MOUNT

Exergue:

ONE PENNY TOKEN

Vern's Comments:

Withers:
West Wheal Fortune Mine (Ludgvan)

697 Penny, undated.
Similar, but the I of ICH is above the end of the ribbon and there are no traces of E under A of WHEAL
℞ Similar, but the nearer ship has no ropes between the mast and sail. The tail of the island on the left lines to the beginning of O
Davis 16
Edge : centre grained backslash D14.
35mm 18.6g Die axis ↑↑.      R

The word 'wheal', or whele, derives from the Cornish huel meaning mine.
   West Wheal at Ludgvan produced a rich ore and was one of the three greatest in Cornwall in 1725. It was prosperous even during the great depression of 1807.
   At the time of issue of the token, when the turnpike road ended at Falmouth, the harbour on St Michael's Mount was the most important in West Cornwall and exports of copper, tin and much salted fish were made from there.

It was similar, in part, on both sides to N^o. 693:
O: WEST WHEEL FORTUNE • ONE PENNY TOKEN • the Prince of Wales' feathers.
℞: CORNISH MOUNT · ONE PENNY TOKEN • view of St. Michael's Mount.

West Wheal Fortune Mine penny