Parker's was one of several Dublin merchants issuing copper tokens in the 1790s to fill a genuine shortage of small change — the Royal Mint had effectively abandoned halfpenny production for Ireland, leaving commerce to fend for itself. These provincial tokens circulated by mutual consent rather than legal authority, and most were demonetized and recalled for remelting once the Act of Union brought tighter monetary oversight after 1800.
DH#351 places this within Dalton and Hamer's classification of Irish provincial tokens, a series riddled with die variants and restrikes made well after original issue dates — collectors should note that "1794" on a Parker's token describes the stated date, not necessarily the striking.
Parker's was one of several Dublin merchants issuing copper tokens in the 1790s to fill a genuine shortage of small change — the Royal Mint had effectively abandoned halfpenny production for Ireland, leaving commerce to fend for itself. These provincial tokens circulated by mutual consent rather than legal authority, and most were demonetized and recalled for remelting once the Act of Union brought tighter monetary oversight after 1800.
DH#351 places this within Dalton and Hamer's classification of Irish provincial tokens, a series riddled with die variants and restrikes made well after original issue dates — collectors should note that "1794" on a Parker's token describes the stated date, not necessarily the striking.