Owner Comments:
Middlesex London and Westminster Series DH #103
Obverse: The front of a large building with four Ionic columns and a large pediment BUILT 1748 AD Ex: IRONMONGERS HALL in two lines with HALL above IRONMONGERS
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: 23.17g
Rarity: Rare
The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers was first mentioned during the reign of Edward III. They are one of the twelve Great Companies of London. They were both merchants and retailers with warehouses and shops to sell finished goods. They received their charter from Edward IV in 1463 and their arms were granted shortly afterwards. The Hall depicted on the token opened in 1745. It was destroyed on July 7, 1917 by a bomb during World War I. The Ironmongers are now mainly a charitable institution.
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 134
DNW Sale, 2 February 2022
Ex: Spink