Natal, Durban, Blackwood Couper & Co, brass Shilling, 1861 (Hern 64a; Theron N9; Ford 5479). Blackened from fire damage, otherwise fine, rare (£40-60)

Blackwood Couper & Co, grocers, West street; the company’s building shown on the reverse of their tokens was burnt down on 1 May 1864 and the majority of the tokens now extant show signs of fire damage. Interestingly the tokens bear the old name D’Urban, for which the city was renamed from Port Natal in honour of Sir Benjamin D’Urban in 1835