19th CENTURY BRITISH TOKENS

GEORGE III (1760-1820) GEORGE IV 1820---

1799 1811 1820 1821

No Regal copper minted between 1799 and 1821 except for 1806 and 1807. A rapid rise in the price of copper leads to great quantities of copper coin being melted down illegally. This causes such a shortage that there is not enough coin to pay the rapidly growing Industrial population. Some 18th Century Tokens reissued with countermarks, but by 1811 the demand was so great that manufacturers, mainly in Birmingham, begin striking tokens for factory owners and traders all over the country.

THE 19th CENTURY TOKEN (1811-1821)

During the Napoleonic wars there came a small wave of prosperity in the industrial districts and the inevitable need for small change, so in 1811 tokens again made their appearance. Some of the larger factory owners built complete towns around their factories. By paying wages in Company Tokens, their workers were forced to use them for rent and to purchase living supplies from the "Company Store". Hence, these tokens are very utilitarian in nature as well as being well used through continual circulation.
On this occasion silver tokens were made as well as copper. As these were made for a better class of trade, they did not incur the same overuse and wear as the copper factory tokens and they generally exist in much better condition.

GEORGE III (1760-1820)			GEORGE IV 1820---
	1799	1811	1820	1821
	No Regal copper minted between 1799 and 1821 except for 1806 and 1807. A rapid rise in the price of copper leads to great quantities of copper coin being melted down illegally. This causes such a shortage that there is not enough coin to pay the rapidly growing Industrial population. Some 18th Century Tokens reissued with countermarks, but by 1811 the demand was so great that manufacturers, mainly in Birmingham, begin striking tokens for factory owners and traders all over the country.
		THE 19th CENTURY TOKEN (1811-1821)
		During the Napoleonic wars there came a small wave of prosperity in the industrial districts and the inevitable need for small change, so in 1811 tokens again made their appearance. Some of the larger factory owners built complete towns around their factories. By paying wages in Company Tokens, their workers were forced to use them for rent and to purchase living supplies from the "Company Store". Hence, these tokens are very utilitarian in nature as well as being well used through continual circulation. On this occasion silver tokens were made as well as copper. As these were made for a better class of trade, they did not incur the same overuse and wear as the copper factory tokens and they generally exist in much better condition.