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A female seated, holding a sword and shield bearing the arms of London. St.
Paul’s Cathedral in background / A crown upon a triangle, held by two hands.
KING. LORDS. COMMONS.
Edge: PAYABLE AT THE HOUSE OF T. & R. DAVIDSONS
Dalton & Hamer: 295
The obverse depicts a seated "Madam Metropolis" with a civil sword in her right hand, holding with her left hand the Coat of Arms of London City standing on the ground, which is a white shield with a red cross of St. George and a red sword of St. Paul, next to which is a pile of fruit. St. Paul's Cathedral is shown in the background on the left. The City of London is a county in its own right, although it is territorially located in the county of Middlesex, on the north side of the River Thames. Circle legend: SISE LANE HALFPENNY 1795. The obverse represents the dignity and importance of London in the person of the Lady of the Metropolis, guarding her treasures: the Houses of the Sovereign, commercial trade, the Conservatory of Science, Art and Religion.
The reverse side depicts an equilateral triangle crowned with a royal crown, held by hands on both sides, inside of which is a shining constitution. Circular legend on three sides of the triangle: "King, Lords, Society". The composition embodies the brilliance of the British Constitution, supported by the Peers and ordinary people of the kingdom.
Lead lettering: "PAYABLE AT THE HOUSE OF T. & R. DAVIDSONS". Messrs. T. and R. Davidson had their own pocket book business at 18 Sea Lane, Bucklersbury, London.
Engraver - Hancock, manufacturer - Dobbs. Issued 10 cwts (1 cwts = 100 lb = 45.359237 kg).