1 Penny token (Wellington) - 1813

Side 1: VIMIERA. TALAVERA. BADAJOZ. SALAMANCA. VITTORIA.

Side 2: ONE PENNY TOKEN
In ex.: 1813.

Withers 1507
Mm. 34 - Copper - Engrailed edge
Not in great condition, but a very rare penny token. The vendor wrote:

"These tokens were issued by Thomas Picard of Hull, Yorkshire  with the idea that they might be used in Spain with Wellington's troops. However, they did in fact circulate in Britain but due to the alarming number of counterfeits which were being made, he decided in late 1813 to call his tokens in.  It seems likely that Picard, having redeemed them,  then sold them for scrap either directly to Canada or to someone who then shipped them off to Canada - where there was a desperate need for copper change. Anyway,  they circulated firstly in the UK and then after 1813 in Canada in quite considerable numbers."