1860 - Darley, Butler & Co.,

Colombo, Ceylon

The copper tokens that were possibly issued for service in the Darley, Butler & Co. mill called New Maddema (Slave Island) for coffee, oil and plumbago. It is the only token cataloged in Pridmore with an astronomical symbol.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination 9 pence Alloy Brass Diameter 36. mm Thickness  mm Weight 19.86 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis O°
Lowsley Unlisted; Pridmore #27; Mitchiner #2237a

Obverse :	DARLEY, BUTLER & CO. -+-	a radiate Sun Face in center.
Reverse :	COLOMBO 1860 CEYLON

DARLEY, BUTLER & CO. Edward J. Darley, who came to Ceylon in 1836 was in charge of the Piece-goods Department of the first firm to invest in land - Ackland, Boyd & Co. (1829-1847). When Ackland, Boyd & Co. failed, Darley received the agencies of the coffee estates then in the hands of the firm and started business on his own account under the style of Darley & Co. In 1848-49, Samuel Butler, who came out in 1837, was admitted to the business when the name and style of the firm was changed to Darley, Butler & Co. From the outset the firm, infer alia, had embraced Ceylon produce and their success was substantial. Very large gains were made during the American Civil War and during the subsequent famine of cotton in Manchester. Darley, Butler & Co. had a mill called New Maddema (Slave Island) for coffee, oil and plumbago. The tokens were possibly issued for service in this mill.

A smaller token of similer design with diameter 29. mm and 9.96 grams exist. The pair of tokens represent a full and half task, possibly 9d. and 4 1/2d values, or a full and half bag of clean coffee.

Reference
* The Coins of British Commonwealth of Nations to the end of the reign of George VI 1952 Part 2 - Asian Territories by F. Pridmore Spink & Son Ltd., 1965. Tokens
* Oriental Coins AD 600 - 1979 by Michael Mitchiner 1979

I thank Jan Lingen who kindly sent me a 300dpi scan of this circulated VF token from his collection. The images are displayed at 150dpi.