Provincial Tokens
Middlesex Spence DH 896
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
G.BRIT - MIDDLESEX G. BRIT - MIDDLESEX Spence 1790's |
| Item Description: |
1/2P 1796 G.BRIT D&h-896 MIDDLESEX - SPENCE'S E: PLAIN Middlesex DH 896 E: PLAIN |
| Full Grade: |
NGC MS 63 BN |
| Owner: |
farthing |
Set Details
| Custom Sets: |
Provincial Tokens
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| Competitive Sets: |
This coin is not competing in any sets.
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Owner Comments:
Middlesex Spence DH #896
Obverse: Two boys on a turnstile LITTLE TURNSTILE 1796
Reverse: A Spaniard with a sword THE HABIT OF A SPANIARD
Edge: Plain
Diesinker: Unknown
Manufacturer: Thomas Spence
Rarity: Rare
Often referred to as the first socialist, Thomas Spence was born in 1750 in Newcastle-upon Tyne and was an English radical, advocating for common ownership of the land and equality of the sexes. He was one of the leading revolutionaries of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He left Newcastle for London in 1787 and had a book shop ‘The Hive of Liberty’ at 8 Little Turnstile, High Holborn. He published a weekly tabloid “Pigs Meat, or Lessons for the Swinish Multitude, Collected by the Poor Man’s Advocate” where he advocated for reforms. He was a member of the London Corresponding Society and was imprisoned multiple times. He spent 7 months in Newgate Goal in 1794 charged with high treason and 12 months in 1801 for seditious libel. He died in London on 8 September 1814.
One of Thomas Spence's many political tokens.
Atkins: Middlesex 675
Bt. Northeast Numismatics