1820-Dated Blacksmith Token, Possibly Overstruck, Breton-1008, Wood-19, BL-32A1, XF.
Copper. 28mm x 30mm. 5.90 grams. The obverse shows the portrait of a male figure facing right, described alternately in the literature as George II, an “Indian,” or even the Duke of Wellington, his hair tied in a ribbon behind with three forecurls. The reverse depicts Commerce seated on a bale above a diagonally lined base. A scale is outstretched in her right hand and a cornucopia rests in her left. The date 1820 appears in the exergue.
This is one of only two tokens in the Blacksmith series listed by P.N. Breton (1894), who correctly described the variety as “rare” but erroneously noted only three or four known. Perhaps he meant known to him. In a 1985 CN Journal article, Warren Baker cited 32 known to him in copper and seven in brass. Baker’s own collection, which was auctioned in 1987, included five examples. One of them was struck over an 1825 farthing, proving that these Blacksmiths were antedated. Another was struck over an example of Wood-6. This piece, which also formed part of the collection, was conservatively described as as Very Fine or better and struck over a counterfeit George II or George III half penny:
This token appears to be over a George II or III counterfeit halfpenny. The word "REX" can be made out if the coin is turned to the reverse and inverted; the letters appear to the right of the date. The coin has been hammered prior to striking, perhaps to eliminate traces of a regal coin undertype.
In hand, an artifact is definitely visible, but I cannot say for certain that it is the word REX rather than a raised line from a slip of the engraver’s tool. The coin is clearly struck on a planchet that had been hammered. The surfaces are slightly wavy and irregular, as expected, but the preservation is far better than most other examples of Wood-19 seen. Indeed, both sides maintain traces of faded mint red colour, and friction is minimal. Were it not for the uneven nature of the strike, as is true for all examples, a high AU assessment would not be of the question. In fact, the Baker Collection also included one piece described as Uncirculated with “original red which is toning down to glossy brown.” That piece was called the finest known and is better-detailed, but this one is arguably more attractive and certainly gives the other a run for its money.
Ex: Possibly from a hoard of colonials discovered circa 1985 by a gentleman in Hudson, Quebec; Warren Baker; The Warren Baker Collection of Canadian Blacksmith Coppers (Bowers and Merena, 3/1987), lot 1051, where it realized $1,760 USD; Donald G. Partrick.
Copper. 28mm x 30mm. 5.90 grams. The obverse shows the portrait of a male figure facing right, described alternately in the literature as George II, an “Indian,” or even the Duke of Wellington, his hair tied in a ribbon behind with three forecurls. The reverse depicts Commerce seated on a bale above a diagonally lined base. A scale is outstretched in her right hand and a cornucopia rests in her left. The date 1820 appears in the exergue.
This is one of only two tokens in the Blacksmith series listed by P.N. Breton (1894), who correctly described the variety as “rare” but erroneously noted only three or four known. Perhaps he meant known to him. In a 1985 CN Journal article, Warren Baker cited 32 known to him in copper and seven in brass. Baker’s own collection, which was auctioned in 1987, included five examples. One of them was struck over an 1825 farthing, proving that these Blacksmiths were antedated. Another was struck over an example of Wood-6. This piece, which also formed part of the collection, was conservatively described as as Very Fine or better and struck over a counterfeit George II or George III half penny:
This token appears to be over a George II or III counterfeit halfpenny. The word "REX" can be made out if the coin is turned to the reverse and inverted; the letters appear to the right of the date. The coin has been hammered prior to striking, perhaps to eliminate traces of a regal coin undertype.
In hand, an artifact is definitely visible, but I cannot say for certain that it is the word REX rather than a raised line from a slip of the engraver’s tool. The coin is clearly struck on a planchet that had been hammered. The surfaces are slightly wavy and irregular, as expected, but the preservation is far better than most other examples of Wood-19 seen. Indeed, both sides maintain traces of faded mint red colour, and friction is minimal. Were it not for the uneven nature of the strike, as is true for all examples, a high AU assessment would not be of the question. In fact, the Baker Collection also included one piece described as Uncirculated with “original red which is toning down to glossy brown.” That piece was called the finest known and is better-detailed, but this one is arguably more attractive and certainly gives the other a run for its money.
Ex: Possibly from a hoard of colonials discovered circa 1985 by a gentleman in Hudson, Quebec; Warren Baker; The Warren Baker Collection of Canadian Blacksmith Coppers (Bowers and Merena, 3/1987), lot 1051, where it realized $1,760 USD; Donald G. Partrick.
Copper. 28mm x 30mm. 5.90 grams. The obverse shows the portrait of a male figure facing right, described alternately in the literature as George II, an “Indian,” or even the Duke of Wellington, his hair tied in a ribbon behind with three forecurls. The reverse depicts Commerce seated on a bale above a diagonally lined base. A scale is outstretched in her right hand and a cornucopia rests in her left. The date 1820 appears in the exergue.
This is one of only two tokens in the Blacksmith series listed by P.N. Breton (1894), who correctly described the variety as “rare” but erroneously noted only three or four known. Perhaps he meant known to him. In a 1985 CN Journal article, Warren Baker cited 32 known to him in copper and seven in brass. Baker’s own collection, which was auctioned in 1987, included five examples. One of them was struck over an 1825 farthing, proving that these Blacksmiths were antedated. Another was struck over an example of Wood-6. This piece, which also formed part of the collection, was conservatively described as as Very Fine or better and struck over a counterfeit George II or George III half penny:
This token appears to be over a George II or III counterfeit halfpenny. The word "REX" can be made out if the coin is turned to the reverse and inverted; the letters appear to the right of the date. The coin has been hammered prior to striking, perhaps to eliminate traces of a regal coin undertype.
In hand, an artifact is definitely visible, but I cannot say for certain that it is the word REX rather than a raised line from a slip of the engraver’s tool. The coin is clearly struck on a planchet that had been hammered. The surfaces are slightly wavy and irregular, as expected, but the preservation is far better than most other examples of Wood-19 seen. Indeed, both sides maintain traces of faded mint red colour, and friction is minimal. Were it not for the uneven nature of the strike, as is true for all examples, a high AU assessment would not be of the question. In fact, the Baker Collection also included one piece described as Uncirculated with “original red which is toning down to glossy brown.” That piece was called the finest known and is better-detailed, but this one is arguably more attractive and certainly gives the other a run for its money.
Ex: Possibly from a hoard of colonials discovered circa 1985 by a gentleman in Hudson, Quebec; Warren Baker; The Warren Baker Collection of Canadian Blacksmith Coppers (Bowers and Merena, 3/1987), lot 1051, where it realized $1,760 USD; Donald G. Partrick.