WW1 Belgian Canteen Token ½D Half Penny - Van Den Berghs Ltd

Van Den Berghs' Glasgow (Lanarkshire) brass halfpenny canteen token, undated. Obverse: Legend on two curved lines with value in centre: "VAN DEN BERGHS LTD ◦ CANTEEN DEPT ◦ ½D". Reverse: Legend on two curved lines with value in centre: "VAN DEN BERGHS LTD ◦ CANTEEN DEPT ◦ ½D". Plain edge. Van Den Bergh's premises were at 20 Spoutmouth, Glasgow and they produced margarine amongst other things. Good collectable condition (VF), see photographs. Circa 26mm.

I was told that this related to canteens set up in WW1 to assist Belgian refugees in the UK, in particular the one located at Elizabethville in Birtley, County Durham (now Tyne and Wear). Van Den Bergh is of course a Belgian name. However, this is purely anecdotal.

The final photo includes a picture of the 1D and ½D coins together for comparison purposes. Only the ½D coin is for sale here.

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Code: 61445