North Wales Halfpennies

About This Coin

A fascinating hybrid within the Washington Pieces (1783-1800) series, the North Wales Halfpennies represent muling — combining dies from different coinage programs — common among late 18th-century British token manufacturers. These pieces pair a Washington obverse die with a "North Wales" reverse from the standard British provincial token series, creating a coin bridging American presidential commemoratives and British regional numismatics. The North Wales reverse was a stock die available to Birmingham token manufacturers, and its pairing with Washington obverse dies demonstrates the commercial flexibility of the token industry, where dies were mixed to appeal to different markets. Typically dated 1795 with one undated 1790s mule known, these copper tokens weigh approximately 9 grams with a 29 mm diameter. Washington tokens using the North Wales reverse circulated alongside the chaotic assortment of foreign coins, state coppers, and private pieces serving as everyday money in the early American republic. For collectors, the North Wales Halfpennies add a distinctly Anglo-American dimension to the Washington series, documenting transatlantic commercial networks producing Washington-themed tokens for the American market.