Trade token (obverse), Halfpenny, of Edinburgh

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This is the obverse of a copper halfpenny trade token of Edinburgh. Dated 1796, the token was designed by James Wright Junior and manufactured by Kempson. Only 100 of these tokens are said to have been struck.

The obverse depicts Register House in Edinburgh, founded in 1774. The surrounding text above reads 'EDINBURGH HALFPENNY/1796'.

Designed in 1771 by Robert Adam, Register House holds the main legal and judicial records and the older historical documents. New Register House was built behind Register House in 1859-63 and administers the registration of births, deaths and marriages.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-083-553-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1995.416
• Date: 1796
  
• Material: Copper; striking flaw on obverse; some lustre; no evidence of wear. Inscription: Obv: EDINBURGH HALFPENNY, around top; 1796 below; view of a public building; WRIGHT DES, in small letters, on foreground
  Trade token, halfpenny
  
• Dimensions: 28.5 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Trade token, halfpenny
  
• Subject: Trade tokens
  
• Who: J. Wright (Designer)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Copper halfpenny trade token of Edinburgh, designed by J. Wright, 1796
  
• References:
  • Dalton and Hamer, LothiaN 52 
  • Dalton, R & Hamer, S.H. 'The Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century, Illustrated, Part XII: Scotland'. 1916 p. (v) 
• Translations:
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