Thomas Halliday (engraver) explained

Thomas Halliday (c.1780 – c.1854)^{[1] [2]} was an English coin and medal engraver associated with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.^[3]

Halliday worked as an engraver at the Soho Mint in Handsworth, West Midlands.^[4] Following this, he set up his own business moving to numerous locations throughout Birmingham before settling at Newhall Street until his death.^[5] He had many apprentices including Peter Wyon, a member of a large family of engravers.^[6]

Engraver of Canadian colonial tokens

Halliday is known to have engraved dies for a number of copper tokens that were used in pre-Confederation Canada. These include the Bust and Commerce series, the Pure Copper Preferable to Paper series, and the “R.H. tokens” among others.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Book: Forrer, L. . Biographical Dictionary of Medallists . Halliday, Thomas . Spink & Son Ltd . London . II . 1904 . 388–390.
2. Book: Forrer, L. . Biographical Dictionary of Medallists . Halliday, Thomas . Spink & Son Ltd . London . VII . 1923 . 412.
3. Book: Flynn. Brendan. RBSA: A Place for Art: The story of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. 2014. Callprint. Liverpool. 52.
4. Web site: Biography for Thomas Halliday. Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery. Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery. 22 June 2015.
5. Web site: Thomas Halliday (Biographical details). British Museum. British Museum. 22 June 2015.
6. Web site: Weiss. Benjamin. English Medallists. Historical and Commemorative Medals Collection of Benjamin Weiss. 22 June 2015.
7. Grawey . Tim . December 26, 2017 . Halliday's work, influence seen throughout Canadian coinage . 8 . Canadian Coin News . Trajan Publishing .