At my request, Mike Dlugosz of New Jersey forwarded this information from his Spring 2018 fixed price list of rare tokens and medals. Some nice pieces. -Editor
The offering features a selection of high quality 18 and 19th century British tokens and British historical medals including sought-after Thomas Paine and anti-slavery motifs, as well as a handful of hard-to-find 19th
century American political tokens and medals e.g. Baker-282 and a brilliant example of the 1840 American Anti-Slavery Society medal.
In 1739 Richard Howe entered into the service of the Royal Navy. From the age of 13-18 he served as a midshipman – a voluntary position where young men trained to become officer. Having gained sufficient experience by
1744 he was given the post of commissioned lieutenant.
Howe spent another 55 years climbing the ranks and fighting in naval battles during the most notable conflicts of his era: the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution. On what became known as
the Glorious First of June, then Admiral Lord Howe, commanded his fleet to perform an unconventional maneuver. This was executed somewhat haphazardly. The British succeeded insofar as the French fleet incurred the greatest
damage. However, the ultimate goal of intercepting a vital convoy of supplies from the United States to France was not achieved. As a result both Britain and France were able to lay claim to victory back home.
Most of the halfpenny tokens bearing Howe's likeness are medallets made for sale by Peter Kempson out of Birmingham. Kempson's business as a manufacturer of buttons and medals was active from the 1790s through
1826.
#4. Hampshire 21. Copper halfpenny. Obverse: EARL HOWE & THE GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE. Reverse: RULE BRITANNIA 1795. Gem Uncirculated with flashy prooflike surfaces and remaining mint red.
Thomas Frederick Salter owned a hatter's business at 47 Charing Cross in London. He issued this general trade token for that operation in the 1790s. The man's real passion in life was to go fishing. Salter was
introduced to the sport by his father at the age of 12 and spent most of his spare time during the ensuing 40 years fishing in locations around the county of Middlesex, " remaining at favourite stations for weeks
together."
In 1814 at the age of 52, he published his first book on the subject. It would go through 9 editions. The Angler's Guide, Being A Complete Practical Treatise on Angling: Containing the Whole Art of Trolling, Bottom
and Float Fishing, Fly-fishing, and Trimmer-angling for Sea, River and Pond Fish, Founded on Forty Year's Practice and Observation. (Personally, I'm partial to pond fishing for bass with an extra line sitting on
the bottom for cats).
#12. Middlesex 473. Copper halfpenny. Obverse: A view inside Salter’s hat maker workshop. Reverse: CHEAPEST HAT WAREHOUSE IN THE WORLD. Gem uncirculated. Excellent strike. Lots of mint red.
During the 17th and 18th centuries the town of Burslem in Staffordshire grew into a center for the production of pottery due to a significant deposit of clay that runs through the area. Here, Josiah Wedgwood he began
working in the family business at the age of 9 under his brother, Thomas, a 3rd generation master potter. J.Wedgwood became a master potter as well and later ran an immensely successful operation on the grounds of his own
estate, Etruria.
Around 1787 he began producing porcelain medallions for the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade that featured the infamous kneeling slave motif. Wedgwood's factory is largely responsible for the initial
proliferation of that image and in part increased public support for the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade. The design was used by artists who worked in a variety of mediums, including manufacturers of British tokens and
medals from the 1790s through the mid 19th century. It was later borrowed by the American Anti-Slavery Society (1833-1870).
#8. Middlesex 235 bis III. White Metal. Obverse: A slave kneeling, AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER. Reverse: WHATSOEVER ... This specimen fresh to the market having been in a private collection for over 30 years. A
tiny imperfection at the rim otherwise choice uncirculated with lots of mint brilliance. Not easy to find specimens with fields this nice.
#34. Middlesex 1089. Copper farthing. Obverse: Adam & Eve, MAN OVER MAN HE MADE NOT LORD. Reverse: A slave kneeling, AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER. Gem uncirculated. A superb specimen with a very strong strike for
this issue - slightly broadstruck. Mint red on the periphery fades into bluish brown toning toward the centers. Unimprovable!
#35. Middlesex 1118 double-struck over South Wales 23. Copper farthing. Obverse: THOS SPENCE, SIR THOS MORE, THOS PAINE. Around, NOTED ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF MAN. The host token, South Wales 23, rotated about
35 degrees clockwise and struck once, then rotated another 15 degrees clockwise and struck again. Reverse: A slave kneeling, AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER. The top part of the shield and most of the reverse legend from South
Wales 23 is boldly visible. Uncirculated. Toned brown with some brassy mint brilliance clinging tightly to the lettering and a small tone spot noted. An unusual and unique twist on top of an already very hotly collected
design. One of a kind.
#44. 1840 American Anti-Slavery Society Medal. White Metal. By New York engraver William Henry Bridgens. Rare and sought after. Despite a few minor marks, this medal is brilliant and flashy uncirculated with bold
strike—two characteristics that I have never seen together for this variety. Specimens that possess just one of those qualities command strong prices.
To read the complete fixed pricel list, see:
http://condertokenbook.com/fpl
Wayne Homren, Editor
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