Liverpool Own Money?? 1793?

[MissInformed]

I have just read on here (and heard a rumour at work last week) that Liverpool once had it's own money...is this true?
Any pics, if yes?

[Kev]

I have just read on here (and heard a rumour at work last week) that Liverpool once had it's own money...is this true?
Any pics, if yes?

I think this one is true

[MissInformed]

is it something to do with Martin's Bank?

[ChrisGeorge]

Hello MissInformed

Nothing to do with Martin's Bank. There was a currency shortage during the reign of George III (1760-1820) at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. A number of merchants throughout the land started putting out halfpenny pieces in the 1790's. One of these was the Liverpool Conder halfpenny with the Liver Bird on a shield on one side and the city motto Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit ("God has provided this leisure for us") and a sailing ship on the side with the words "Liverpool Halfpenny." (Conder was the name of the series of copper halfpennies). The tradesman's name was on the rim of the coin. It wasn't so much official Liverpool money as a coinage of necessity put out by merchants. Later in the nineteenth century there were Liverpool merchants who put out brass tokens as well. See below.

A rarer variety has George Washington on one side and the sailing ship on the other and is also known as a "Liverpool Halfpenny" though the more common variety is the one described above which can be purchased fairly cheaply on ebay.

Chris

[Paul D]

How much do they actually go for on Ebay Chris? do you have any links so I can have a look at them?

[PhilipG]

The British halfpennies had the same sailing ship.
Memories!
A wren

on the farthings.
Britannia on the pennies.
The thrift plant on the threepenny bit.
What was on the tanner?
There was an English and a Scottish

shilling.
And the florin and the half-crown.

[ChrisGeorge]

How much do they actually go for on Ebay Chris? do you have any links so I can have a look at

them?

Of course what is "inexpensive" to me as a coin collector might be more to a non-coin collector. I see there is one on

ebay right now that just sold for

$24.09 US. Of course any coin is going to depend on the condition of the coin and on ebay what the bidding might be.

Chris

[Paul D]

Thanks Chris I reckon that's a great price for something so historic.

[Paul D]

I'm sure the Liverpool money goes on display in February as part of the 2007 Birthday celebrations,probably in Picton library in the city centre.I read it in the Echo a while back so keep your eyes peeled I'm wanting too see it myself.

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi all

As I mentioned there were a number of tradesmen later in the nineteenth century who issued brass tokens and there are a number of them available on ebay today. Not as spiffy maybe as the Conder token with the sailing ship one one side and the liver bird on the other but still a piece of local history to own a token issued by a tradesman in Lord Street or other locales in the 'Pool a hundred and fifty years ago.

Chris

[Paul D]

There were also Liverpool notes issued wasn't there Chris?

[ChrisGeorge]

There were also Liverpool notes issued wasn't there Chris?

Hi Paul

There were Liverpool Corporation bank notes issued in 1793-1795, believed to be the only such issue by an English municipality. Liverpool banks also issued notes at various times. Below image courtesy of Mersey Gateway.

Chris

[Paul D]

That's brilliant Chris I knew I'd seen them somewhere thanks for clearing that up.

[ChrisGeorge]

Glad to help, Paul. The pay-for-access site JSTOR has an article, "Municipal Bank Notes in Liverpool. 1793-5" by E. C. K. Gonner, published in the Economic Journal, Vol. 6, No. 23 (Sept., 1896), pp. 484-487. The beginning of the article may be viewed for free at JSTOR

Chris

[MissInformed]

many thanks for all the info guys.
so interesting!