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Trade token (obverse), Halfpenny, possibly of Edinburgh

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Trade token (obverse), Halfpenny, possibly of Edinburgh
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This is the obverse of a copper halfpenny token, dated 1796. Although attributed to Edinburgh in the book by Dalton & Hamer published in 1916, the token may have originated elsewhere.

The obverse depicts a filtering stone for purifying water. The surrounding text reads 'FOR PURIFYING WATER/1796'.

Between 1787 and 1817 over 10,000 different types of trade token were issued to ease the shortage of small change. The contemporary fascination with tokens resulted in them becoming collectors' items. Some tokens were issued purely for collecting.

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