18th Century British Trade Tokens

Warwickshire, Birmingham, 50th Birthday of Joseph Priestley, 1783, medals by J.G. Hancock (2), in copper and white metal, from the same dies as previous, both 36mm, 16.27g/12h, 14.05g/12h (both DH 33; BHM 251; E 807) [2]. Usual flaw on reverse rim, copper virtually as struck and attractively patinated, white metal good very fine but with ‘B’ stamped below artist’s signature, both scarce £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Robinson S. Brown Jr Collection.

View
Collection

Provenance: *Copper Christie’s Auction, 1 May 1984, lot 441, W.J. Noble Collection, Part I, Noble Numismatics Auction 58B (Melbourne), 7-8 July 1998, lot 946; white metal W.J. Noble Collection, Part I, Noble Numismatics Auction 58B (Melbourne), 7-8 July 1998, lot 947 [from Spink 1975].

The provenance given for the specimen of DH 33 in copper in the David Spence collection (DNW Auction 67A, lot 1777), should be ignored as it correctly applies to the first piece in this lot. The ‘B’ stamp possibly represents one-time ownership by the eccentric Manchester dealer D.T. Batty (†1896), who is known to have inked his catalogue numbers on tokens in his personal collection