AYR, Copper PATTERN 1/2d bank token 1799 Col. FULLARTON Start Price GBP 355.00 Current Price GBP 355.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, November 27, 2008 End Time Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Location London See more about 'AYR, Copper PATTERN 1/2d bank token 1799 Col. FULLARTON' Description AYR, Copper PATTERN 1/2d bank token 1799 Col. FULLARTON       Description 18th. century copper pattern halfpenny or halfcrown,  dated 1799 for a proposed Bank-token issue by Colonel Fullarton of   Ayr. Obverse : Cuirassed bust left of the Prince of Wales, George IV to be.  Reverse :  Cruciform of shields with Prince of Wales plumes between,  St. George & dragon in centre.   Edge :  Plain    Diesinker and manufacturer - Milton.   Colnel William Fullarton - MP for Ayrshire, Govenor of Trinidad ifrom 1801, Colnel in Chief of the 98th. Regiment of Infantry, the 101st Regiment of Foot and the Fullerton's Light Horse - all three of which he raised, lived at Fullerton house a large estate by Troon in Ayrshire. In the last years of the 18th. century he designed a set of coins that were to be issued by a bank in Ayr for circulation in Scotland.  The design had the Prince of Wales's approval and the dies were prepared by Milton. The set was to consist of three silver pieces - a  2/6d., 1/, and a 6d. - each with the design pictured here in diminishing sizes. However,  by chance Sir Josph Banks was visiting Milton just as the first proofs were being struck but was greatly alarmed by their similarity to the official 'Coin of the Realm'.  Banks warned Milton that, due to this similarity, he may well be liable to prosecution for treason or counterfeiting - and besides, the Prince of Wales did not have the authority to sanction the use of the Royal Arms on silver pieces intended as currency !  The project was immediately abandoned and only a few pieces were issued, mainly in copper and whitemetal, as souvenirs of the aborted venture.  Several years later Matthew Young and then W. J. Taylor obtained the dies and issued restrikes - but these can be identified by a die flaw beneath the bust. This piece is from the Cockayne collection and was bought by him in 1905 for £2/2/-.   Cockayne also deemed the piece to be an original strike. D&H Ayrshire 5       29mm.           RARE+        ex Cockayne col. 1940s, (sold with his two original tickets).   UNCIRCULATED,  beginnings of an even toning with much original mint lustre.  Superb piece ! Place a Bid!