Images(2)

Halfpenny Trade Token (Perth)

DesignerDesigned by James Wright Jr.

IssuerIssued by John Ferrier

Date1775-1800

Object NameToken

Mediumcopper alloy

ClassificationsTokens

DimensionsApproximately (Diameter x Thickness): 27 × 2mm
Weight: 10.3gm

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS013584

Keywords

Trade

About MeThe obverse of the token shows a view of the bridge over the River Tay at Perth. Below that appear the arms of Perth within a sunken circle, one of Wright's favourite stylistic devices. The bridge depicted on the token was designed by the famous civil engineer, John Smeaton. As the token tells us it was 'finished in 1770'. Remarkably this was 150 years after the demolition of its predecessor.

Although James Wright, Junior mostly designed tokens for his home town of Dundee he also did so for Forfar, Edinburgh and, as in this case, Perth.

The reverse of the Perth token was designed for local hosier John Ferrier, the obverse of which show the bridge over the Tay completed in 1770. On this side we see a fisherman hauling in his net; the accompanying Latin inscription refers to the success of his catch.

Ferries had been in use at Perth for 150 years since the collapse of an earlier bridge. Perhaps if Wright had had more imagination he would have portrayed the ferryman rather than a fisherman - which would have been a good pun on the token-issuer's name.