Birmingham Union Copper Company Token
Name/Title
Birmingham Union Copper Company TokenEntry/Object ID
2025.1.79Description
Birmingham Union Copper Company Token Overstruck for use in Bradford WorkhouseContext
The Birmingham Union Copper Works was started at Danygraig, Risca, just north of Newport in South Wales and it existed for just ten years. Its trading offices were listed as Congreve Street in Birmingham. The location of the works was a good one with a nearby colliery supplying small coal which was otherwise unsaleable and the newly opened Sirhowy tramroad providing access to a supply of limestone and clay, whilst ore could be brought in on the newly built Monmouthshire canal. At its peak between 1811-1815 the output was around 34 tons per week. It produced many of the One penny tokens at the time. The works closed abruptly in 1816 most likely due to the declining demand and price of copper which was falling off at the end of the war against France and the works were offered for sale in 1817. These large copper One Penny Tokens were issued in 1812 and show clasped hands and the date below with the legend UNION COPPER COMPANY BIRMINGHAM around the outside.Category
Coins, Tokens and Medals or Awards