The Preston-Morley Buckinghamshire Collection: Tokens

17th Century, High Wycombe, Thomas Atkines, Halfpenny, 1668, 2.08g/12h (Berry & Morley 207; SCBI Norweb 829, same dies; BW. 155); Thomas Bates, Farthings, 1661 (2, different obv. dies), Prince of Wales’ feathers, 0.97g/9h, legend starts at 12h (Berry & Morley 209; BW. 156A); 0.58g/4h, legend starts at 6h (Berry & Morley 208; BW. 156) [3]. First very fine, second about fine, third only mediocre but the obverse clear, last two very rare (£100-120)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Preston-Morley Buckinghamshire Collection: Tokens.

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Collection

Provenance:
*B & M 207 bt Spink April 1970.
B & M 209 bt Noble Coins August 1973.
B & M 208 bt N Clark May 1991, ‘found in the ground recently.’

Thomas Atkins, butcher; his first wife’s name was E––– and his second wife’s name was Anne (†1676).
Thomas Bates (†1670), lace buyer; his widow, name unknown, †1676. The crude style of the obv. of B & M 208, coupled with the irregular die-axis, is suggestive of a local issue, perhaps by a blacksmith; it certainly post-dates B & M 209