Date: 1814 and 1816 ???

1814 & 1816 – Edward Bewley’s token penny

Description:

Very rare Edward Bewley’s (Dublin) copper penny token dated both 1814 (the year of Wellington’s final victory in Spain, his invasion of SW France and the abdication of Napoleon) and 1816.

Hailed as the conquering hero by the British, on 3 May 1814

• Wellington was made Duke of Wellington, in the county of Somerset, together with the subsidiary title of Marquess Douro
• He received some recognition during his lifetime (the title of “Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo” and “Grandee of Spain”) and the Spanish King Ferdinand VII allowed him to keep part of the works of art from the Royal Collection which he had recovered from the French.

The obverse of this ‘mule’ comprises a Hilles token (Davis Dublin No: 10) with a William Bewley reverse die – hence the two different dates.

• Edward Bewley is thought to have been a grocer with a business at 35 South Earl Street, Dublin.
• Diameter 33.7mm
• Rare

Obverse:

• Laureate draped bust of the Duke of Wellington to the left.
  • Engravers’s name on truncation / shoulder “I. PARKES”
• Legend:
  • “WELLINGTON & VICTORY” around, with date “1814” below.

Reverse:

• Hibernia seated to the left holding an olive branch and spear with an Irish harp on her shield and a sailing ship in the distance
• Legend:
  • “EDWD BEWLEY” around, with date “1816” in exergue

Edge:

• Plain

References:

• Withers No: 1810a, (variety of)

Category:

• Irish Token Coinage
  • 19th Century
    • Dublin
    • Trader (Grocer)

Further Reading

• Withers, Paul & Bente, “British Copper Tokens 1811-1820″