About this objectHalfpenny mail coach token, payable in London. Often known as a ‘Palmer halfpenny’ and probably minted in Bath.
In 1797, a group of Bath businessmen, coaching enthusiasts and the owners of some of the large coaching inns in London issued a token halfpenny. It recognised the work of John Palmer, who had established the system of mail coaches that ran across Britain. These tokens were distributed through coaching inns at the ends of each route. It is thought that inn landlords used them as change for customers travelling to London. The customers would then be able to use the ‘Palmer halfpenny’ to pay for goods and services at the large coaching inn where their coach would stop in the city.
MakerJames Fittler
Maker RoleEngraver
Date Made1797
PeriodPost-medieval (1540-1901)
Place MadeUnited Kingdom, Somerset, Bath
Medium and MaterialsMetal | Copper alloy
Inscription and MarksObverse: Above MAIL COACH HALFPENNY, Mail coach travelling right, below TO TRADE EXPEDITION | & TO PROPERTY | PROTECTION | PAYABLE IN LONDON
Reverse: TO | J PALMER E. I THIS IS INSCRIBED | AS A TOKEN OF | GRATITUDE | FOR BENEFITS RECE’D | FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT | OF MAIL COACHES | J[ames] F[ittler]
