This is a great collectors coin to have in your collection. Even tough it is over 230 years old, the detail on the coin is still very remarkable. Considering this was used by the common people even the lettering around the side of the coin is still clearly legible, reading "PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF REYNOLDS & CO"
There are no coins like this I could find for sale in South Africa and the few they have on eBay which are the same quality as this are going for at least twice the price.
There is also a lot of history around this coin which I have detailed below:
Privately minted 1792-1794 halfpenny token issued during Great Britains Condor token craze depicts the legendary Lady Godiva and carries the legend PRO BONO PUBLICO as do many Condor tokens, meaning "for the public good." Lady Godivas ride, too, was for the public good.
Seventeen a beauty queen
She made a ride that caused a scene
In the town
Her long blonde hair
Hangin' down around her knees
All the cats who dig striptease
Prayin' for a little breeze
Her long blonde hair
Falling down across her arms
Hiding all the lady's charms
Lady Godiva
Peter and Gordons 1966 chart topper celebrates the worlds most famous tax protest, the fabled and likely fictitious 11th century ride of Lady Godiva, wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia in Anglo-Saxon England.
The story of the ladys naked ride was first recorded in Roger of Wendovers 13th century book Flores Historiarum or Flowers of History. Despite its title, the book is a chronicle of events not a gardening guide.
The tale has been embellished over the centuries, but the plot remains the same: Leofric refuses Godivas entreaties to lower the taxes on the oppressed residents of Coventry. One day, though, Leofric gives in, saying hell cut taxes if she rides naked through the town at midday.
In a report on the historic person, the BBC wrote, The rest of the story is not documented at all, but it is said that so great was her compassion for the people of Coventry that Godiva overcame her horror of doing this. She ordered the people to remain indoors with their windows and doors barred. Loosening her long hair to cover her as a cloak, she mounted her waiting horse.
Then she rode through the silent streets unseen by the people, who had obeyed her command because of their respect for her.
Peeping Tom, the tailor who was struck blind for looking, was added to the story in the 17th century.
Lady Godiva appeared on a privately minted 1792-1794 halfpenny token issued during Great Britains Condor token craze. The token, which was designed by William Mainwaring and struck by William Lutwyche, shows a not-too-pretty nude equestrian on one side along with the date and the legend PRO BONO PUBLICO, a wording with a double meaning on this piece.
With small change in short supply, private mints struck hundreds of trade tokens, often with imaginative designs, to meet the English publics need. The legend PRO BONO PUBLICO appears on many Condor tokens, meaning that they were struck for the public good. Lady Godivas ride, too, was for the public good.
The other side of the Godiva token shows Coventrys symbol an elephant with a castle turret in place of a saddle and the legend COVENTRY HALFPENNY. The edge says where it was payable and by whom.
