A copper Halfpenny (30mm) for Blything Hundred in Suffolk issued by Sir John Rous of Henham Hall in 1794.
In 1792 Sir Thomas Gooch proposed that volunteer cavalry troops be raised throughout the country in view of the threat from Napoleon. One of the first of these was the Loyal Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry which, under the command of Sir John Rous, was raised in 1794. Two years later he was raised to the peerage as Lord Rous .
This token was struck in honour of the first Troop of the LSYC and as well as being a token halfpenny probably also served as a military or volunteer medalet as well. The obverse shows a mounted yeomanry cavalryman in full gallop with a drawn sword and reverse shows the yeomanry badge - a castle in garter.
The token was issued to facilitate trade at a time when there was a shortage of small change. This lack of coppers not only made it difficult to carry out small purchases - such as buying a loaf of bread, but also it affected the poor by removing prospective largesse.
