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Auction: 18004 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 526

"Success to the Grand Duke", engraved Copper Halfpenny token, 1804, 10.38g, ship sailing left, sails billowing, Success to The Grand Duke below, rev. 1804 / the gift of / mat.w archer / to his / Friend / jn.o crosby in six lines, a charming, finely engraved token, a few minor edge scuffs, otherwise good very fine, and of historical and naval interest

Historical records suggest that the 'Grand Duke' was constructed in Ipswich about the year 1784 as a 'second class vessel' constructed 'of the first quality'. However, its earliest known appearance in the Lloyd's Annual Register of Shipping does not occur until 1801, when it is documented as a copper-sheathed Ship, recently overhauled with a new deck and a maximum cargo load of 243 tonnes, currently sailing to and from the ports at Lancaster and Martinique.

The following season, it had transferred ownership and relocated operations to the Liverpool dockyards for eventual voyages to Jamaica. The new owner, Mr T. Bradshaw also saw fit to remove the sixteen cannon previously noted, thereby increasing her overall bearable load to 256 tonnes. The Grand Duke continued these journeys until at least 1804 but subsequently disappeared from the censuses, perhaps suggesting that after 30 years service she was scrapped or worse still, simply lost at sea. One might plausibly argue that the dedication of this token in this same year may be more suggestive of the former eventuality, with seaman Mathew Archer choosing this moment to mark his friendship with John Crosby during their time aboard.

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Sold for
£580