1/2 Penny Speed the Plough

Prince Edward Island operated without a formally chartered bank until 1855, leaving the colony dependent on a chaotic mix of Spanish, American, and British coins supplemented by merchant tokens. The "Speed the Plough" coppers were issued by the colonial government specifically to address that shortage — one of the few instances of a British North American colony issuing official halfpence under its own authority rather than relying on private token issuers.

The pieces were struck in Birmingham by Ralph Heaton & Sons. Circulation was heavy enough that worn survivors are the norm.