Associated Irish Mines Company Half-Penny Token

Coin

-

West Virginia Mine Wars Museum

Name/Title

Associated Irish Mines Company Half-Penny Token

Entry/Object ID

KK.0139

Description

Halfpenny token issued by the Associated Irish Mine Company for payment to their employees, who were principally engaged in copper mining activities in the Vale Of Avoca in Southern Ireland.

Use

These (and other) tokens were mass-produced during the late eighteenth century by many British companies at a time when there was a shortage in circulation levels of official currency.

Collection

Company Scrip + Tokens

Mintage

Mint

Associated Irish Mine Company

Date made

1789

Time Period

18th Century

Place of Origin

Region

Western Europe

Continent

Europe

Manufacture Method

Struck

Coin Details

Obverse

Description

Shield of arms, probably of the Associated Irish Miners (divided into three sections by a chevron - crossed spades above the chevron, three pickaxes on it and a horn suspended from a ribbon below it), with a windlass crest above. Half of a date on each side of the shield.

Transcription

ASSOCIATED IRISH MINERS ARMS

Reverse

Description

Crowned bust of John of Gaunt facing left. Legend inscription all around.

Transcription

JOHN OF GAUNT DUKE OF LANCASTER

Edge

Description

edge should be investigated in person and updated on record

Issuing Authority

Associated Irish Mine Company

Denomination

Half-penny

Composition

Material

Copper

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

see also KK.0324, Parys Mining Company Half-Penny Token

Web Links and URLs

The Battle of the Tokens: 1789-99 (Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland, 3, 2003), Some Anglo-Irish Copper Mining Tokens Of The Late Eighteenth Century

Provenance

Provenance Detail

eBay Purchase

Role

Purchaser

Acquisition Method

Purchase