Trade token

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This is the obverse and reverse of a halfpenny trade token made in Edinburgh in 1796.

The obverse, on the left, depicts Register House in Edinburgh, the building designed by Robert Adam to house Scotland's public records. The reverse, on the right, depicts Britannia seated, with part of a ship at her side.

Adam began work on Register House in 1774. It was built on ground given by the City of Edinburgh in an attempt to encourage development of the New Town at the north end of the newly opened North Bridge.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-083-199-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1995.417
• Date: 1796
  
• Material: Copper; striking flaw on obverse; some lustre; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv: EDINBURGH HALFPENNY; 1796; WRIGHT DES; REGISTER OFFICE FOUNDED 1774; Rev: BRITANNIA
  ICOM Number: D&H 52
  Trade token, halfpenny
  
• Dimensions: 28.5 mm / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: ICOM Number: D&H 52
  Trade token, halfpenny
  
• Subject: Trade tokens
  
• Who: Britannia
  Register House, Edinburgh
  Wright (Designer)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Copper halfpenny trade token of Register House, Edinburgh, 1796, designed by Wright
  
• References:
  • Dalton and Hamer, LothiaN 52 
• Translations:
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