Coalbrook Dale (Shropshire) copper Conder halfpenny token dated 1792. Obverse: Detailed view of the bridge with a sailing ship passing underneath with legend: "IRON BRIDGE AT COALBROOK DALE. 1792", "ERECTED ANNO 1779. SPAN 100 FEET". Reverse: A man working at a barge-lifting machine with legend: "INCLINED PLANE AT KETLEY 1789". Edge inscription: "PAYABLE AT COALBROOK-DALE AND KETLEY". Issued by Reynolds & Co., trading as the Coalbrook-Dale Iron Company with establishments at Coalbrook-Dale and Ketley. This company cast the 278 tons of iron used in the construction of the bridge. Also, Reynolds invented the inclined plane on the reverse which was used to haul barges 60 feet up to the next level of canal at Ketley where locks were not feasible. Good collectable condition with uneven colour, see photograph. Below are recent photographs of the iron bridge and the bottom of the inclined plane where barges were dragged up the hill on rails, powered by the barge-lifting gear situated at the top of the slope, as indicated on the token. D&H Shropshire No: 9. Diameter 29mm. F+. £15.00 e-mail David at d-stuart@d-stuart.demon.co.uk to order. |
