1/2 Penny Bust and Harp - Imitation

These imitation halfpennies were produced in Britain specifically for the Canadian trade token market, which by the 1820s had effectively replaced official copper coinage throughout the provinces. The colonial administration made no serious effort to supply adequate small change, leaving merchants dependent on a chaotic mix of private and imitation pieces. CCT BL-36 belongs to a cluster of Birmingham-struck coppers that mimicked regal halfpenny types closely enough to pass in daily commerce without scrutiny.