Cornish Penny on Leather Key Fob

Cornish penny key-fob – a Cornish tin penny (replica) mounted on a black leather fob with round split key-ring.
The penny shows a pump engine with the year 1811 on the front and a pilchard with tin ingots and the wording ‘For the accommodation of the County ‘ on the reverse.

Cornish pennies were trade tokens. They were introduced and used when there was an inadequate supply of official small denomination coins.
Tokens are privately produced substitutes for official coins. They were produced in Britain from the reign of Elizabeth I to George III, by companies or individuals, often large scale employers, to provide change. They reached their peak near the end of the 19th century.
Monarchs usually held a monopoly on the minting and issuing of coins. This was normally a profitable activity, but the production cost of small coins often made them unprofitable to produce. Due to this many monarchs neglected to produce sufficient quantities of low denomination coins to meet demand. This caused considerable inconvenience and unrest within the poorer classes. It was not only
monarchs, but also governments who failed to provide sufficient small coins for change.

Width: 48mm Length (including ring): 115mm

Supplied in a recyclable cardboard box.

LIFETIME GUARANTEE As with all St Justin products, this item comes with a lifetime guarantee. If there is a fault in the workmanship, St Justin will repair or replace it free of charge. Simple.

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