Owner Comments:
Cornwall Falmouth DH #3
Obverse: The Arms of Falmouth: a double-headed eagle with wings spread, on its breast a rock with a pole
Reverse: FALMOUTH INDEPENDENT VOLUNTEERS 1797 . centered in five lines, above a small ornament with three dots on either side
Edge: Milled /////
Diesinker: Francis Arnold
Manufacturer: William Lutwyche
Weight: 9.68g
Rarity: Scarce
This piece was issued by the Corps as a token, medalette and advertisement piece. With the very real threat of invasion from France many private yeomanry and volunteers were being raised throughout the country to fight Napoleon if he landed on these shores. These groups often issued their own token to use, to celebrate the formation of the corps and to advertise and encourage others to join.
The Falmouth Independent Volunteers were such a militia, they were artillery and were commanded by Captains Joseph Banfield and John Carn with Lieutenants Robert Snell and Arthur Maukin and Ensigns Richard Williams and John Tressidier. All their commissions are dated 1st October 1797.
Atkins: Cornwall 3
Heritage Mesquite Collection Sale, 18 May 2026