Coins History Tokens

A Yorkshire Watchmaker's Ingenious Solution to a Nation's Coin Crisis

Henry Brownbill - Watchmaker and Coinage creator

Originally published on baldwins.co.uk 18 May 2023.

Read the full story here

In the late 18th century, Britain faced a peculiar problem: there was no small change. Amidst the war with France, copper prices soared, and official coins vanished. Small merchants were left scrambling for solutions. Enter James Carlill, a watchmaker from York, who minted his own halfpenny in 1792, featuring the bust of Constantine the Great. This coin became a local lifeline.

The Crown, preoccupied with war, had little bandwidth to address the issue, and minting unofficial coins was considered forgery, punishable by hanging. However, a clever workaround emerged when a Welsh mining company began producing copper tokens redeemable in official coin, sidestepping legal pitfalls and quickly gaining acceptance.

This grassroots initiative flourished. In a year, merchants from cities like Leeds and Sheffield to smaller locales like Huddersfield and Bedale began issuing their own tokens. Each token reflected the unique character of its issuer. For instance, Henry Brownbill, another watchmaker from Leeds, produced a halfpenny in 1793 featuring Bishop Blaise, celebrating Leeds' wool trade.

This decade of unofficial coinage ended when the government finally issued new copper coins post-war. Now, these historical tokens are set to be auctioned by A H Baldwin & Sons, providing a rare glimpse into this fascinating chapter of economic ingenuity.

Curious to see these historical gems? Read the full story on Baldwin's website. Dive into this remarkable era where everyday merchants became the unsung heroes of Britain’s monetary system.

Jack Masters

Must-Have Items at Baldwin's Vintage, Retro, and Sealed Video Games - Part II Auction

Previous article

Unlocking Coin Value: Neil Paisley’s Insight on Rarity and Third Party Grading

Next article