824 Some Old Coppers. 
particular tradesmen,—trading companies,—towns,—cities,—and 
even villages. The circulation of these provincial halfpence, seems 
to have been put an end to not later than the year 1818. The 
interest in these “ o/d coppers” arises from two causes; the extra- 
ordinary value of the designs of many of them, and the way in 
which they hand down to these days the most engrossing matters 
of their date. With regard to the designs on many of them, in 
some cases they are so extraordinary, that those who have not 
actually seen them, might fairly accuse any writer, who described 
them, as playing upon the credulity of his readers: therefore it is 
necessary here to state that every description in this paper has 
been written from the actual coin, or from an accurate engraving 
of it. 
These copper coins represented various values—the commonest 
being one penny; others represented a halfpenny—others again 
one farthing: whilst one issued by John Pinkerton in 1789, stood 
proxy for one shilling. Many of these coins are interesting from 
having struck upon them representations of buildings—some of 
which are already destroyed. It would be quite impossible within 
the limits of a paper of this description to enumerate all; but to 
give an idea of what these representations are, mention may be 
made of Colchester and Bungay Castles (in ruins), Chichester and 
Ipswich Market Crosses—a multitude of churches, town halls, and 
factories; most of the old gates of the city of London—Bishops- 
gate—Ludgate—Aldgate and Temple Bar—the Houses of Parlia- 
ment as they then stood—the Hospitals, and indeed most of the 
public buildings in London. 
Others again record great engineering successes, such as bridges, 
—canals—and what was thought such a wonder at the time of its 
being formed—-the Brimscombe tunnel for the canal near Stroud. 
Some recorded events of local history: Coventry for instance, has 
its penny, whereon figures Queen Godiva, in her ride “ pro bono 
publico.” A token issued in the city of York commemorates the 
birth there of the Emperor Constantine. 
Men too, who have made themselves a name, are frequently 
represented on these old coppers :—Shakspeare—Newton—Johnson 

