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by Michael E. Marotta, 16 Jun 1994
The kings of England have displayed little understanding of trade and commerce. From ancient days until 1700, royal coinages in silver were debased, inadequate, ugly, and uncontrolled. The contracts that were let to private firms for minor coins were given to charlatans and cheats. Several times the crown banned private coinage and never was the law obeyed. After all, the people must eat. If bread and beer cost farthings and pence, then people must have copper.
In the 1300s the English folk imported bronze "jetons" ("counters") from Europe. In the 1600s, they minted their own tokens. This is why the American colonists struck coins without hestitation. All of these were outlawed by the royal proclamation of 1672. So, the Massachusetts Pine Tree Shillings of 1674 are dated 1652. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the merchants were at it again. In America, we call them "Conder Tokens" after an early cataloguer.
Industry made it possible for tavern-keepers to sink their own dies and stamp their own coins. Most carry the name or likeness of a merchant on the obverse and a patriotic device or slogan on the reverse. There are perhaps ten thousand different kinds of merchant tokens from the period 1790 to 1820. Manchester and London account for about one-third of all issues. Nearly every village had one issue and most places had several.
Most of the tokens were pennies, though other sizes were also made. American Hard Times Tokens sidestepped accusations of counterfeiting with the slogan "Millions for defence but NOT ONE CENT for tribute." The English tokens often have a similar legend. Some were denominated in money of account: "480 Good for 1 Pound" while others promised a "Penny in Exchange on Demand." (Of course, there were no pennies to be had.) A few tokens attempted to carry their weight in metal: the three pence coppers weigh about an ounce.
Among the merchants who issued tokens was John Wilkinson, the iron master whose razor blades are found in stores alongside those of King Gillette. Wilkinson's name was so well respected that other people minted counterfeits of it. The copper is good and the coins are of reasonable weight. Since all issues were unofficial, no crime was committed. You can spot the fakes because the name is misspelled. Both of these are half pence by size but neither bears any statement of weight or value.
IOHN WILKISON IRONMASTER is the obverse legend. The head could be any beefeater. The reverse shows a man working at a forge and the date 1787. Attributed to Warwickshire.
IOHN WILKESON IRONMASTER is the obverse legend. The head is similar to the above. The brickwork of the forge has more dimension and the date is 1793.
Michael E. Marotta
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