World, Ireland, Dublin, Mic Wilson, halfpenny token c. 1670s, crude brass cast

The story of the "butcher's halfpence" is farcial. Mic Wilson, an undertaker of Dublin petitioned the city to allow himself to issue a token halfpenny for want of small change, to be redeemed by himself. Given the taboo nature of his profession, he used the butcher's arms rather than any indication of his trade. However, Wilson's real scheme was to counterfeit his own halfpennies, such that over 90% of the issue in circulation did not come from official dies. He could thus put his counterfeits into circulation without having to redeem them, and it proved impossible to prove definitely that any particular pieces from the irregular issues were of his manufacture. The general public were not pleased, especially once further counterfeits, such as the present issue, and even parodies, entered circulation. The tokens were removed from circulation in Dublin, but remained in use in the Isle of Man for some time thereafter. 

BW 416; Norweb - (but see 6235ff for various other issues, official and unofficial, of this type)