Have you ever seen a Hastings Halfpenny?

[Guest JoL]

In an idle moment I thought I'd Google this old coin I've had for years. And guess what, I can't find a single reference to it. So I've decided to register here just so I can post this question.

Dated 1794 it claims to be a Hastings half penny. It's dark brown, (sorry I'm not knowledgeable enough to be sure what metal it's made of) and about 29mm diameter. However the side I presume to be the obverse does not bear George III's head, but a picture of a sailing ship with the motto "Success & Safety attend the Endeavour" by which I assume it's a commemorative coin struck in Hastings. Since Cook's expedition set off in 1768 this doesn't quite make sense to me. Any ideas?

[Chris Perkins]

It's copper and not really commemorative, it would have been made to provide small change at a time when regal coppers were thin on the ground. Google 'Conder Tokens' or regional tokens and you'll probably find lots of info on similar contemporaries.

[Red Riley]

It's copper and not really commemorative, it would have been made to provide small change at a time when regal coppers were thin on the ground. Google 'Conder Tokens' or regional tokens and you'll probably find lots of info on similar contemporaries.

Strangely, I've actually got one of those; collected because some of my ancestors came from that neck of the woods. I had initially thought that 'The Endeavour' was a reference to Captain Cook's barque, but on investigation it appears that that was some years before and surely Cook's locale was too far away (Whitley Bay) to be noticed on the South Coast. The boat itself looks more like a fishing smack than anything with ocean-going potential, and therefore probably has a more local significance. I'm blowed if I know what it is though.

[Dg43]

The boat is a small single masted vessel known as a Hoy.

The token is a Hastings Dalton & Hamer 25, It is a proper trade token issued by an Hastings

Ironmonger - amongst other things - The edge should bear the inscription: Payable James Tebays Hastings.

The obverse legend is probably a general encouragement to the success of the coastal trade.

It is fairly common, Bell says about 15000 approx were struck

[Red Riley]

The boat is a small single masted vessel known as a Hoy.

The token is a Hastings Dalton & Hamer 25, It is a proper trade token issued by an Hastings

Ironmonger - amongst other things - The edge should bear the inscription: Payable James Tebays Hastings.

The obverse legend is probably a general encouragement to the success of the coastal trade.

It is fairly common, Bell says about 15000 approx were struck

Well how about that! I'd never noticed the edge lettering before, and it reads just as you say. I have seen several for sale, but none of them mentioned this wording. Obviously fairly common but interesting nonetheless.

Thanks for the info.

[Guest JoL]

Thank you for all the help. It's interesting to know what I've had all these years. Mine is too worn to see the inscription around the edge, unfortunately, so I guess it's not worth much.

I'm not really a serious collector, I just don't tend to throw things out so any old/foreign coins I get, I keep. It's interesting to be able to show the kids once in a while, especially as I can (just) remember decimalisation myself when I was little.