Lot 1307
Birmingham (listed under London by D&H), John Hancock with John Jorden brockage Halfpenny undated
The Deane Collection of 18th Century Tokens | 112
Auction: 11 October 2023 at 12:50 BST
£3,600
Description
Birmingham (listed under London by D&H), John Hancock with John Jorden brockage Halfpenny undated, A man (Thomas Paine) hanging from a gibbet, rev. incuse impression of previous, edge plain, 27.55mm/10.43gm. (DH 825 bis). Good Extremely Fine with an almost bronze-like toning, Unique !
Ex. Baldwin’s Basement Feb 2018. Allegedly ex F S Cokayne but no supporting ticket.
The die had already broken when this coin was struck, and the obverse of the coin, then acting as the reverse die produced the same impression on the revers except incusely. It is interesting to see how the cud produced in the original die break has the reverse effect in the brockage strike - bending that area of the coin considerably. Was this intentional as the cuds on both sides match exactly ? Thomas Paine, radical liberalist, and supporter of American Independence was born in Thetford and emigrated to Philadelphia with the help from Benjamin Franklin and in 1791/92 he wrote the ‘Rights of Man’. Paine also played a part in the drafting of the Declaration of American Independence ‑ although it is unclear as to the exact extent of his input.
