Token - Farthing, Hannay & Coltart, St John's, Antigua, 1836

Farthing token, Issued by, St. John, Antigua, 1836. Mint not recorded. Date on token could be date of founding of company. Antigua, an island which is located in the Caribbean Sea, was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1453. It was settled by the English in 1632 and Charles II granted it to Lord Willoughby. Coinage on the Island was the regional standard of Spanish and French colonial issues until 1822 when the British sent a shipment of 'Anchor' Money (in the denominations of quarter, eighth and sixteenth of a Spanish dollar). In 1825 a supply of British silver and copper coins arrived but circulated at a local currency rating. In 1847, 100 pound sterling was rated at 225 pound currency but this was abolished on 13 January 1847 after which standard sterling applied. This token is denominated as sterling (stg) so its issue is placed after that date. The date on the token, 1836 is believed to be the date of the founding of the Hannay & Collart company, merchants in St. John. Antigua became an independent state on 27 February 1967, it remains within the British Commonwealth.