Owner Comments:
Middlesex Spence DH #1099
Obverse: A man walking on all fours IF THE LAW REQUIRES IT WE WILL WALK THUS
Reverse: Britannia seated, leaning on a shield and holding a spear, a Cap of Liberty falling in front of her ROUSE BRITANNIA!
Edge: Plain
Diesinker: Unknown
Manufacturer: Thomas Spence
Weight: 3.98g
Rarity: Rare
The obverse design refers to public servility to unfair and unjust laws.
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 794
Bt. Allan Davisson
Ex: Francis Cokayne
Ex: Norman