Owner Comments:
Middlesex London and Westminster Series DH #81
Obverse: An angle view of the front of the Bank of England BANK OF ENGLAND above Ex: BUT. 1796. NEW BUILDINGS. in two lines
Reverse: The Arms of the city of London and Westminster between crossed palm and laurel branches, LONDON AND WESTMINSTER PENNY with 1797 above the shield
Edge: I PROMISE TO PAY ON DEMAND THE BEARER ONE PENNY X
Diesinker: Benjamin Jacobs
Manufacturer: Thomas Prattent
Weight: 25.02g
Rarity: Rare
The Bank of England was established in 1694 to act as the central banker for the English government. It was owned by private stockholders until it was nationalized in 1946. It is the worlds second oldest central bank.
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 112
Bt. Sydney F. Martin, Stacks Bowers Summer Showcase Sale, September 2025