Mortonhampstead Halfpenny | Baldwin’s

In 1670 the town authorities of Mortonhampstead in Devon issued their own Halfpenny. At the time, there was a national shortage of official small copper change which led to the private issue of token halfpence and farthings by local merchants and town authorities in order that they might provide small change to facilitate trade, and most importantly that there was sufficient low value coin in circulation that could be given as largess to the poor of the parish.

The token is small, around 22mm in dimeter and struck in copper. The obverse bears the legend “YE 8 MEN & FEEFFEES  OF MORTON 1670” whilst the reverse features a depiction of the town’s church, with the inscription “FOR YE BENEFIT OF YE POOR” around the edge.

The Mortonhampstead Town Halfpenny became a widely accepted form of change not on in the town itself but also in the villages around where there was a dire need of small change. The town had three other shopkeepers issuing tokens – John Newton a candle-maker, John Tucker a tailor and Thomas Aish of unknown occupation. These private tokens issued in market towns and villages all over Britain were the only change available until the 1680s when the government finally got round to issuing an official copper change.

This particular halfpenny token of a Devon market town is very rare and is priced at £185. coming with a 1920s ticket in the hand of Albert Baldwin priced at five shillings.