Royal copper coinage was issued sporadically and grudgingly from 1672 to 1775, when it stopped altogether. Copper prices were rising and the monarchs thought copper an unworthy metal to display their image.Evasion tokens circulated freely but did not meet the increasing need for copper coins to pay wages and make change as the Industrial Revolution accelerated.
image courtesy of Cybercoins
The Parys Mine Company in Anglesea ,Wales found their own solution .In 1787 the company began to use their own abundant copper supply to issue handsome full weight "Druid" tokens that were eagerly accepted by the local population. This idea was quickly adopted by other industrialists like John Wilkinson and Charles Roe and a new series of British tokens was thriving. Soon towns, merchants, political organizations ,and wealthy individuals were issuing tokens- usually copper halfpennies, pennies, and farthings-to meet an ever increasing demand that would last until the next Royal coinages of 1797 and 1799.
Image by Joel Spingarn
The tokens are named for James Conder, an eighteenth century cataloger who also issued tokens to advertise his drapery business in Ipswich- thus we have Conder's Conders!.The tokens were made in thousands of varieties and designs are often intricate and beautiful. Nice common tokens sell for $8-12, and uncirculated examples can be bought under $60.
