The Collection of British Tokens formed by Eileen Judson

18th Century Tokens, Hertfordshire, Sawbridgeworth, Robert Orchard, Penny, 1801, full-face bust in high relief, robert orchard sawbridgeworth herts, rev. book lying below tree, church in distance, sawbridgeworth penny token, edge plain, 32.66g/12h (DH 1, this specimen noted). Usual die flaw on reverse, several cuts and other defacing marks both sides, otherwise fine, obverse better; the worst of the four attested specimens of this classic token (£1,500-2,500)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of British Tokens formed by Eileen Judson.

View
Collection

Provenance:
W.J. Davis Collection, 11-15 March 1901, lot 56 (part);
bt Baldwin July 1971.

The four known specimens of this token are a single specimen from the cracked obv. die, illustrated by Hamer (BNJ 1904, pl.ii, 13), later in the Hamer sale (lot 91) and, at the time of writing, still privately owned; and three from the repaired obv. and flawed rev., namely that in the British Museum from the Saria Sophia Banks collection, acquired by her on 31 December 1802 (the DH plate coin), the Longman/Jan/Noble/Bobbe specimen, last sold for Aus$60,000 in 1998 (the Bell plate coin), and the present piece. Further information on this fascinating issue will be published in a future issue of CTCJ.

Robert Orchard, grocer and tea dealer, Greek street, Soho, London, issued several private tokens. See also lot 1162 for a cast copy