Summary

1/2 Penny, Issued by James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby, Isle of Man, Great Britain, 1709
Cast in Castle Rushen, Castletown (possible)

Obverse Description

The Stanley crest and moto: on a chapeau gules, turned up ermine below an eagle with wings spread standing (or preying) on a baby in its cradle; around above, SANS CHANGER; below, 1709

Reverse Description

At centre, triskelis: three legs joined at the upper part of the thigh, flexed, garnished and spurred; around, QUOCUNQUE GESSERIS STABIT (wherever you throw it, it will stand)

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The Stanleys, Earls of Derby, were granted the Isle of Man by King Henry IV in 1406. They ruled as kings of Man until 1651 when the title was changed to Lord. In 1708 the 10th Earl approached the British Treasury to have coins struck for the Isle of Man but the request was rejected at the recommendation of Sir Isaac Newton, then at the Royal Mint. The Earl then proceeded to have copper coins cast, possibly at Castle Rushen. The coins were proclaimed current on 24 June 1710 by an Act of Tynwald.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), A.H. Baldwin & Son Ltd, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    1709 AD

  • Issued By

    Earl James Stanley, Castletown, Isle of Man, 1709

  • Mint

    Castle Rushen (Mint), Castletown, Isle of Man, 1709
    Identification of the castle as the mint are based on the discovery of broken copper runners, which may have been waste product of casting the coins, which were found during excavations in 1905. Pridmore records that a plan of the castle dated 1760 shows the area where the runners were found was named the 'Plumbers Foundery', modern plans show it as 'The Mint'. Pridmore was not convinced.

  • Denomination

    1/2 Penny

  • Series

    Earls of Derby

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Coins, Great britain - isle of man, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    23 mm (Outside Diameter), 5.06 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Pridmore 23 Pridmore, F. The coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1960, Part 1, p. 10 Hocking, William J., Catalogue of the Coins, Tokens etc. in the Museum of the Royal Mint, London, 1906, vol. 1, p. 250
    [Book] Pridmore, Fred. 1960. The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations Part 1, European Territories.

  • Keywords

    British Empire Coins, British Commonwealth and Empire Coins