Owner Comments:
Middlesex London and Westminster Series DH #104
Obverse: The front of Leadenhall Market before its demolition LEADENHALL BUILT A.D 1419 in two lines Ex: TAKEN DOWN 1794
Reverse: The Arms of London and Westminster impaled and surmounted by a mural crown. Edged with a border of small quatrefoils LONDON AND WESTMINSTER PENNY 1797
Edge: I PROMISE TO PAY ON DEMAND THE BEARER ONE PENNY X
Diesinker: Benjamin Jacobs
Manufacturer: Thomas Prattent
Weight: 23.71g
Rarity: Rare
The Leadenhall market building dated to the 14th century and was damaged by fire in 1484 as well as the Fire of London in 1666, being repaired both times. The market consisted of three courts with entrances from Leadenhall Street, Lime Street and Gracechurch Street and was a very important marketplace for meat, fish, raw hides wool and herbs. The building was torn down in 1794 and the current Leadenhall Market building was built in 1881 on the site.
Thomas Prattent was a draftsman, engraver, printer and print seller in London. He was the co-author with William Denton of the “The Virtuoso’s Companion and Coin Collector’s Guide” and issued his own tokens. This is one from his series of ‘London and Westminster Pennies', 33 tokens that featured 32 well known London buildings - mainly Guild-halls, Hospitals and Palaces. He issued them in quite small numbers - plus the dies that James engraved were quite brittle and many broke before the required number was struck. It is possible that he made this series of pennies for the London coin dealer Matthew Denton. The coins were primarily sold to collectors but in these times of desperate need for copper change they often got into circulation alongside the regal copper and other genuine tradesmen's tokens.
Atkins: Middlesex 135
Bt. Merfyn Williams