Michael Byrne Collection - Kempson Coventry Tokens Complete Set

Set Description
Well my friends, the set I started five years ago is complete. This set was a labour of love.

Now this set was made by a die sinker designer and manufacturer by the name of P. Kempson. It was made in 1797 in honor of the great buildings and gates which protected the city of Coventry. Some still stand today. And some were built a long time before 1797. Now Kempson wasn't the only great man to make these Conder Tokens. There were many too many to name. This set contains nineteen tokens. About five tokens into the set a woman by the name of Doris Black sent me a book and I started research. They were not only scarce but rare. Please enlarge the pictures so you can see the detail. Every brick. Some look three dimensional. The workmanship is unbelievable.

The grades go from 63 to 66. Some P. L and some red brown. These were taken care of. Now a Conder collector like myself will tell you we don't believe in grades or slabs. I dont. But when you come across a set like this they need more protection than an envelope. That's why they were slabbed.

I decided to dedicate the set to all the kids and collector's hoping it would inspire them. Yes some sets are impossible. I was giving up but people told me no don't give up, it can be done. The last one took two years - my friend Merfyn Williams in England found it. A great man and an honest seller a true gentleman this set would not be complete without him . None of the auction houses here had any of this set. One auctioneer said he had not seen any in ten years. But its done. The NGC people were good to me. I was told I would never complete it by some big names. Well guys, it's in front of you. The members of the ANA inspired me to keep going. I would like to explain why the is only five reverses. Kempson had four plus the Handel reverse. The difference in the four is a period which is hard to see. The first token will show a number two reverse with a period after his first initial. There is a white dot there. The reverse is the crest of coventry. The Elephant representing strength and the small castle were the soldiers would be showing protection of the city. Now that period is in three different places. You can't see them so I did not see the point in 17 more reverses at D&H 257 you will see the dot. I would like to say thanks to John Cava, Sam Gelberd from the ANA and Chris World coin nut all from the ANA for looking for these. When i was down they picked me up they didn't find any but their support was my inspiration. Any one else has this set please contact me at the ANA under Mike. Thanks to NGC and there work which was invaluable.Every token is exactly like the catalog. None were altered in anyway. As I stated these were sold to collectors. They were stored in a wooden chest with drawers I saw one up for auction at Heritage House. Put on felt in a corner away from lite and the elements.Before closing the drawer They were covered again. That's why they graded high. Enjoy the set. You don't fined a set like this 223 years old all in MS from 63 Now to 66 the new replacement is in the other set.. Please don't ever give up if your going for a set don't listen to anyone but your self. I was told this set was impossible it seemed so. But I never gave up and neither should you enjoy the impossible set. If like I said you find someone else with a complete set please let me know I personally don't believe there is one. I believe and may be wrong but this might be the only complete set around. I have asked and asked. Nothing I'm hoping there is. Now about me. I suffer from traumatic brain injury ,fractured neck nd back issues.. My neurosurgeon was the one who started me on this wonderful road. It has been a challenge but I kept to it. I dedicated this set to all collector's to inspire them and show them if I can do it they can. As I know and others it is the only complete set known. I love The ones with the Handel reverse.. It's a beautiful set it did make me physically sick. Checking auctions all over the world.. But I'm glad I did it. Just look at the detail. Remarkable. Every window brick it's amazing what Peter Kempson did. Conder tokens range in prices from forty dollars to thousands of dollars. I'm glad I found them I have a wonderful.collection besides the Coventry set.. That's it for now I hope you enjoy the set. I do have the MS 66 that has to be added to the set. I'm always trying to improve when i can. It will be added.
I have added the MS 66 Bablake Hospitial!. There all back except i have added another to a complete set another Handel. They will be put in tomorrow May 8 2020. I will keep you posted. Thanks every one. The tokens are up. Now the set is complete well i said 19 was a complete set. Every one in the set has a Handel reverse. I can not spend that much money and another five ten years for a Handel set. So this is a complete set 22 beauties you see 269a is not in the book. Its unique it has no edge writing NGC made it 269a. These Handels were bought at auction a while ago. . So now i can rest. I checked the book there is no number separate with just a Handel this token is one that belonged in the set. So now im done thank you for your understanding. Well I asked you understand. Well I finely have everything fixed and will be entering more tokens . Covid has made tokens 41 days to grade. That gates time to buy some more and send them in. I'm sure you will not be disapointed!!! PS. Fourteen out of 22 are MS 64 to MS 66.!!! This is an update. If you count the number of tokens you will come up with 22. And there are different numbers for the three extra. I have the token and the token with the Handel reverse. !! Now I apologize for the pictures. My camera phone no longer wants to work . It's retired. I will get new pictures up so you can see what your looking at. Thnks. Mike

Set Goals
collect what I like that's first. To increase my inventory of the Conder tokens that are classic there are many more will be going up as soon as I figure it out or get help. Some very affordable some not so. I like detail I believe it has to be seen to appreciate the workmanship done by these masters. This way we all can appreciate them. Count the bricks and the windows. I call it art on copper the more who see it you will know what I mean. I have forty dollar tokens and some expensive ones. In the ANA we say as I said collect what you like. I keep to that I will be very happy to share them with you. I believe this to be the only complete set. If you know of another kindly let me know I would love to talk to the collector. . I have been sick. I have fallen behind and I apologize for that. I have 22 wonderful tokens to put up. That allot of money but I promise to get them done. You deserve to see them. Please be patient. Mike