Owner Comments:
Middlesex Kempson's Series of London Buildings and Gates DH #68
Obverse: A view of London Bridge on twenty piers with as many lamps, LONDON BRIDGE THE FIRST OF STONE COMPLETED 1209 in 4 lines Ex: THE HOUSES ON THE BRIDGE TAKEN DOWN & THE BRIDGE REPAIRD 1758 in 4 lines
Reverse: Britannia facing right sitting on a rock, holding an olive branch in her left hand and supporting a shield and spear with her right, incuse legend on a raised rim BRITISH . PENNY . TOKEN + Ex: the cypher PK and in very small letters MDCC XCVII
Edge: I PROMISE TO PAY ON DEMAND THE BEARER ONE PENNY X
Diesinker: Thomas Wyon
Manufacturer: Peter Kempson
Rarity: Scarce
The bridge shown was started in 1176 by Peter of Colechurch, a chaplain of St. Mary Colechurch. Peter died in 1205, four years before the completion of the bridge. Houses existed on the bridge from very early times until they were removed in 1758. When the bridge was demolished in 1832 the bones of Peter of Colechurch were discovered in the foundations of the largest pier. The new bridge was started in 1825 and stands a hundred feet to the west.
One of Peter Kempson's series of London building tokens made for collectors. The series consists of 39 tokens portraying 25 buildings, 3 bridges, and 8 ancient gates of London.
Atkins: Middlesex 59
Bt. Bill McKivor