1/2 Penny - Halifax Captain Broke short bust - Britannia

This token was issued by Halifax merchants during a period when official British copper coinage was virtually absent from Nova Scotia's circulation — the Royal Mint had suspended small denomination exports to the colonies, leaving local trade dependent on private and semi-official copper issues. Captain Philip Broke of HMS Shannon was celebrated across British North America following his defeat of the USS Chesapeake in Boston Harbor on June 1, 1813, one of the most tactically decisive single-ship actions of the entire war. The token capitalized on that local enthusiasm almost immediately.

The "short bust" variety distinguishes this piece from the companion long bust issue, a die difference documented under Breton 879.