Catalog
1 Ackey - George III Mule
| Issuer | Company of Merchants Trading to Africa |
|---|---|
| Year | 1796 |
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| Currency | Ackey (1796-1818) |
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| Obverse description | The heraldic shield of the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa occupies the central field, divided into two quarters: the upper quarter displays a starry sky with a crescent moon over a coastal landscape, while the lower quarter features a three-masted sailing ship at sea. The shield is supported on the left by a standing Native African figure holding a spear, and on the right by a standing figure of Mercury wearing a winged helmet, both flanking the central arms. A crest above the shield depicts an elephant surmounted by a fortified tower. The entire composition is encircled by a beaded border, with the legend reading around the periphery. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | FREE TRADE TO AFRICA. BY ACT. OF PARLIAMENT. 1750. |
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| Additional information |
The Company of Merchants Trading to Africa was a loose association of British traders operating along the Gold Coast, granted statutory existence by Parliament in 1750 specifically to maintain forts and trading infrastructure without holding a monopoly. Their ackey coinage was struck for use in trade with local populations, denominated in a unit — the ackey — that corresponded to a local weight measure for gold dust. This piece is a mule, meaning the obverse and reverse dies were not originally paired for this denomination, almost certainly the result of a deliberate or accidental die substitution at the Birmingham contractor's workshop, most likely Boulton and Watt's Soho Mint.