Dots around the perimeter of the obverse with TEMPERANCE HALF PENNY around the top and the date 1840 at the bottom. A shield in the middle with the top left quarter showing a figure looking uphill at the sunrise and beneath it `HEALTH`. The top right quarter shows a bird with a branch in it`s beak and beneath it `PEACE`. The bottom half depicts a town scene with a house and smoking chimney, of to one side a church steeple and trees. Beneath it `COMPETENCE`. Below the shield is a banner displaying `HAPPINESS`.
Obverse lettering
TEMPERANCE HALF PENNY
HEALTH PEACE
COMPETENCE
HAPPINESS
1840
Obverse script
Latin
Reverse description
Large dots around the perimeter. On the lower, left hand side, a spiral begins with one dot, then another, then 4 dots, followed by 4 larger dots and 4 larger dots, then a (` followed by CHILDREN TRAINED IN HABITS OF TEMPERANCE WILL NEVER BECOME DRUNKARDS. An arrow seems to continue the spiral encircling a birds nest with two birds in it and a serpent beneath it. Around the nest are smaller letters `BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES`.
Reverse lettering
CHILDREN TRAINED IN HABITS OF
TEMPERANCE WILL NEVER BECOME DRUNKARDS
BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES
