Owner Comments:
Middlesex London and Westminster Series DH #84
Obverse: A corner view of the front and one side of Trinity House, in Trinity Square, Tower Hill with TRINITY HOUSE above and BUILT 1795 below
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: 24.02g
Rarity: Rare
Trinity House was founded by Royal Charter in 1514 by Henry VIII, is the general lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. It maintains navigational aids such as buoys and communication services for ships in the North Sea. It also operates a registered charity providing for retired seamen as well as education promoting safety at sea.
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 115
Bt. Baldwin’s