William Dunn Countermark on 1797 Cartwheel Penny
Offered is a rather battered 1797 Cartwheel Penny, countermarked ‘W. DUNN’ - this most likely being the mark of noted Scottish Industrialist William Dunn, Scott mentioned, Batty#4075a (on 1/2d). Coming from humble beginnings, Mr Dunn would make his name first in metal wares, operating from premises in High John St, Glasgow, before going on to become a magnate in the weaving industry. At the time of his death in 1849, he employed the majority of the town of Duntocher, and left an estate valued at £500 000.
This token has evidently seen considerable circulation, and although less worn, the countermark also demonstrates evidence of having ‘lived’ in circulation for some time. This not only leads us to believe that it is not a check of some sort, but owing to the proportions of wear, that it was most likely produced in around 1813 after Dunn’s acquisition of the Dalnotter Ironworks. It was likely not a promotional piece, so the countermark may have denoted a certain variance of local exchange value within the area of the works - certainly copper coin changed hands at a premium at this time owing to the national shortage of small change.
In all, a fascinating piece of not only industrial revolution era history, but also of local Scottish interest!
Offered is a rather battered 1797 Cartwheel Penny, countermarked ‘W. DUNN’ - this most likely being the mark of noted Scottish Industrialist William Dunn, Scott mentioned, Batty#4075a (on 1/2d). Coming from humble beginnings, Mr Dunn would make his name first in metal wares, operating from premises in High John St, Glasgow, before going on to become a magnate in the weaving industry. At the time of his death in 1849, he employed the majority of the town of Duntocher, and left an estate valued at £500 000.
This token has evidently seen considerable circulation, and although less worn, the countermark also demonstrates evidence of having ‘lived’ in circulation for some time. This not only leads us to believe that it is not a check of some sort, but owing to the proportions of wear, that it was most likely produced in around 1813 after Dunn’s acquisition of the Dalnotter Ironworks. It was likely not a promotional piece, so the countermark may have denoted a certain variance of local exchange value within the area of the works - certainly copper coin changed hands at a premium at this time owing to the national shortage of small change.
In all, a fascinating piece of not only industrial revolution era history, but also of local Scottish interest!
Offered is a rather battered 1797 Cartwheel Penny, countermarked ‘W. DUNN’ - this most likely being the mark of noted Scottish Industrialist William Dunn, Scott mentioned, Batty#4075a (on 1/2d). Coming from humble beginnings, Mr Dunn would make his name first in metal wares, operating from premises in High John St, Glasgow, before going on to become a magnate in the weaving industry. At the time of his death in 1849, he employed the majority of the town of Duntocher, and left an estate valued at £500 000.
This token has evidently seen considerable circulation, and although less worn, the countermark also demonstrates evidence of having ‘lived’ in circulation for some time. This not only leads us to believe that it is not a check of some sort, but owing to the proportions of wear, that it was most likely produced in around 1813 after Dunn’s acquisition of the Dalnotter Ironworks. It was likely not a promotional piece, so the countermark may have denoted a certain variance of local exchange value within the area of the works - certainly copper coin changed hands at a premium at this time owing to the national shortage of small change.
In all, a fascinating piece of not only industrial revolution era history, but also of local Scottish interest!