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1/2 Penny success to navigation and trade
| Issuer | Nova Scotia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1815 |
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| Reference(s) | CCT#NS-23, Breton His#888 |
| Obverse description | Laureate and draped bust of George III facing right, engraved in the style of Thomas Halliday, occupying the central field within a beaded inner border. The circular legend reads HALFPENNY TOKEN above, with the date 1815 positioned in the lower exergue beneath the bust. The portrait displays the king's characteristic aged features with a laurel wreath and draped shoulders, rendered in moderate relief consistent with colonial copper token coinage of the period. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse lettering | SUCCESS TO NAVIGATION & TRADE |
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| Additional information |
Nova Scotia had no formal coinage authority in 1815 — these pieces were privately issued tokens, filling a chronic small-change shortage that plagued British North American colonies throughout the early nineteenth century. The provincial government tolerated, and in practice depended on, such private copper issues to keep petty commerce moving. The "Success to Navigation and Trade" motto reflects the mercantile interests of Halifax merchants who likely commissioned the token, though the specific issuer remains unattributed.
Breton 888 is well-documented within the series but exists in several die marriages, and collectors should note that strike quality varies considerably across the known population.