Anglesey - Parys Mines - M. Boulton

This is a historic piece of numismatic and Industrial Age history. It's the famous issue of the first regular product from Matthew Boulton's Soho mint in Birmingham England that utilized full steam engine power from start to finish. I have to stress 'regular issue' because another issue (D&H 380) was the first token product when the full automated process was declared working but these are considered patterns with only about 75 stuck. This token half penny was the first one of a large regular production (D&H 391). Purchased from Bill McKivor.
Also notable and rare is this particular "ERROR" token. This issue is known to be issued in 'bronzed' copper only but this one shows only partial bronzing on the reverse (cypher) side with a halo of red copper surrounding the DRUID side (see Museum for a full Bronzed beauty). Purchased from the premier dealer of 18th C. English tokens - this is the only one he has ever seen that did not receive the full bronze treatment.
Obverse shows the famous Druid of the Anglesey, Parys Mines. Reverse consists of the 'cypher' of the Parys Mine Co. with 1791 above and the legend "THE ANGLESEY MINES HALFPENNY". Edge of the token made with collared dies is flat and sharp with the inscription "Payable in Anglesey or London <<<<<<<<<<<<-". There is an area on the rim of the obverse showing some difficulty and cudding.
29.06 mm; 13.55 gm
The tokens of the Parys Mines Company may well be considered the “premier tokens” of the Eighteenth Century. It is thought that this druid head design was used because Thomas Williams (original manufactuer of the tokens) lived at Plas Llanidan, close to the battle fields of the Romans and Druids in AD61 and AD76.