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1/2 Penny - George III John McTurk
| Issuer | Isle of Man |
|---|---|
| Year | 1830 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/2 Penny (1⁄560) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and draped bust of George III facing right, occupying the central field, rendered in a somewhat primitive merchant token style. A beaded border encircles the design. The legend GOD : SAVE : THE : KING arcs around the upper periphery, with the date 1830 — notable for its flat-topped numeral 3 — positioned at the base below the effigy. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
John McTurk operated as a merchant and trader on the Isle of Man, and this token was issued to address the chronic shortage of low-denomination coinage that plagued the island through the early nineteenth century. The Isle of Man had no resident mint, and official copper supply from London was irregular at best — conditions that made private merchant tokens not just tolerated but practically necessary for daily commerce.
The George III obverse on an 1830 token is anachronistic; the king had died in 1820. Recycled or copied dies from earlier official issues were commonplace among provincial token producers of this period.