1792 Conder Token - Rochdale Halfpenny

Business Tokens like this were issued by business owners as payment to their workforce. They were redeemable in local stores, often owned by the same business owner. For example, mill owners used these tokens as workers’ wages, and the only way the workers could spend them was at shops owned by the owners.

The obverse features a hanging fleece to the left, taken from the town’s coat of arms. The legend reads “ROCHDALE 1792”.

On the reverse is a large-scale, detailed view of a seated weaver working at a loom. There is an edge inscription: “PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF JOHN KERSHAW
Weight 12.93g

(ref:AHC054)