A collection of coins, all rare examples of late 18th and early 19th century copper coinage, will be sold at the next Carmarthen Antiques and Flea Market a short distance from where they were first spent.

The event on Sunday, November 8, will be a chance to get your hands on three very sought-after copper tokens made locally during a shortage of copper coinage which affect much of the United Kingdom.

Unofficial token pennies and halfpennies which were issued by local industrialists, merchants and bankers were needed as small change, as the Royal Mint’s reluctance to commit itself fully to the provision of coinage in anything other than precious metals remained in force.

Copper tokens like those made by the Morgan Ironworks in Carmarthen were used to pay wages to workers. The local shops in which these tokens were spent were often owned by the same industrialists who had issued the tokens forcing workers to spend their pay with the company they worked for.

The text on the edge of the Morgan halfpenny does however state ‘payable at London, Bristol and Carmarthen’ meaning this token could be used beyond the Welsh borders. The coin also shows the inside of the Ironworks in considerable detail, on one side a smith seems to be hammering hot iron, possibly to harden it or remove impurities. On the other side, foundry workers are guiding molten iron into channels of sand to produce cast pig-iron bars.

In 1812, a ‘Carmarthen Penny’ was issued by William Griffiths, an ironmonger on Dark Street. On one side of the coin appears the Shield of Arms of Carmarthen along with the words ‘Carmarthen Penny,’ whilst on the reverse is a cask within an oak wreath with the words ‘payable by W. Griffiths & Co 1812.’

Just a year later, another penny was issued by William Moss. He was ‘an ironmonger, cutler and brazier’ and had an iron foundry on what is now the site of Carmarthen’s bus station on Blue Street.

Each of the three coins offer a unique insight into life during the industrial revolution in Carmarthenshire and are arguably some of the finest examples of these tokens to be found.

See them at the next Carmarthen Antiques and Flea Market which takes place on Sunday, November 8, between 10 am and 4 pm. As well as ceramics and antique furniture, expect to find vintage jewellery and clothing, gardening and agricultural tools, toys and military memorabilia, as well as modern art. You’ll also find thousands of interesting and unusual decorative items on hundreds of stands indoors and out.

The final Antiques and Flea Market for 2015 is Bank Holiday Monday, December 28. 2016 dates coming soon!

Admission is £4 for adults with accompanied children admitted free of charge. Carmarthen Showground is on the A40, minutes from the town. SA33 5DR.

For more information, including details on exhibiting at the Carmarthen Antiques and Flea Market, visit www.towyevents.co.uk or call 01267 236 569. All indoor pitches must be pre-booked whilst outdoor pitches will be available on the day with set-up at 7.30 am. Meanwhile, keep up-to-date with all our news and events by following us on Twitter @TowyEvents.