Trade token (obverse), Halfpenny, of Burntisland Vitriol Company, Burntisland, Fife

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The is the obverse of a copper halfpenny trade token of the Burntisland Vitriol Company of Burntisland in Fife. Dated 1797, the token was manufactured by Lutwyche. The die-sinker was Dixon.

The obverse depicts a carboy between a rose and a thistle with the initials 'BVCo' intertwined above. A carboy is a large glass bottle used as a container for corrosive liquids.

Oil of vitriol is the same as sulphuric acid, an oily, colourless, corrosive liquid. The Burntisland Vitriol Company issued three hundredweight of tokens. Circulated locally, trade tokens could be used to buy goods or redeemed for regal coinage.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-359-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.1958.8
• Date: 1797
  
• Material: Copper; very slight wear. Inscription: Obv.: a carboy between a rose and a thistle; above, cypher of B V Co. Rev.: BURNT- / -ISLAND / VITRIOL / COMPY . / 1797, across field, within a garter radiated, on which is inscribed NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT. Around
  Coin Type: Dalton and Hamer, Fifeshire 2a
  Trade token
  
• Dimensions: Diameter 30.00 mm; weight 12.64 g; die axis 6.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Dalton and Hamer, Fifeshire 2a
  Trade token
  
• Subject: Trade Tokens
  
• Who: Burntisland Vitriol Company (Issuers)
  Lutwyche (Manufacturer)
  Richardson collection
  
• Where: England, Birmingham
  Scotland, Fife, Burntisland
  
• Event:
• Description: Copper halfpenny trade token of the Burntisland Vitriol Company, Burntisland, Fife, 1797
  
• References:
  • Dalton, R & Hamer, S.H. 'The Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century, Illustrated, Part XII: Scotland'. 1916 p. (iii) 
• Translations:
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