Numismatics Commemorating Astronomy (and Physics)

[mikemarotta]

[mikemarotta]

In America, we call these "Conder Tokens" after an earlier cataloguer (and issuer). The proper name is "British Provincial Tokens." They were issued by merchants and other individuals, struck at the Heaton Mint of James Watt and Francis Boulton (among others). They far surpassed the workmanship of the British Royal Mint of the time. They also filled a desperate need for small change. The Mint could not make money on full-value copper coinage. It was a deadweight loss to the Crown. But with steam engines and tariffed at 240 (or 480) to the pound - payable pretty far from wherever you happen to be - these worked. This series, perhaps six or eight varieties in all, were issued from Norwich and celebrated Sir Isaac Newton.

Edited March 5, 2021 by mikemarotta
fixed typo

[mikemarotta]

Commemorative issues make money for the state because it costs them far less than their face values to churn these out. The thing is, though, that they are lawful obligation of the central bank. So, unlike postage stamps (which are consumables), banknotes tend to be more permanent issues, changed less often.  Before the adoption of the euro, the interesting exception was Greece. For historical reasons, the law regarded coins as the official obligation of the Treasury, while banknotes were a fiduciary instrument of a (quasi) private corporation.

The security features on this polymer note include see-through windows (showing up black here).

Edited March 5, 2021 by mikemarotta