Obv: Bust to right, FREDk. DUKE OF YORK around, HALFPENNY 1795 below. Rev: A man-of-war sailing to the left, THE WOODEN WALLS OF OLD ENGLAND. Edge: PAYABLE AT LONDON OR DUBLIN .X.X.
Uncirculated. Fully red and brilliant! Gem. 9.3g.
A curious fact about Frederick, Duke of York and Albany is that at the time of the token being struck, he had just purchased a beautiful mansion in London so that he could better entertain his guests. He lived there until 1802, when it was then converted into 69 apartments or ‘sets’. Referred to as The Albany, it has since been one of the more exclusive and prestigious properties in all of London. Once only allowing bachelors, the list of former residents includes such lofty names as Lord Byron, Wordsworth, Gladstone, Lord Stanley, Bill Nighy, Aldous Huxley, J. B. Priestley, and Terence Stamp.