© Fred Cherrygarden
© Fred Cherrygarden
½ Penny Middlesex - Spence's / End of Pain ND
| Copper | 6.91 g | 29.5 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | George III (1760-1820) |
| Type | Token |
| Years | 1793-1797 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Conder tokens (1787-1797) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 6.91 g |
| Diameter | 29.5 mm |
| Thickness | 0.7 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#300124 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Open book with lettering and date.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
THE
WRONGS
OF
MAN
JAN: Y
21:
1793.
Edge
Plain
Comment
The token satirizes contemporary English political activist Thomas Paine, known as the Godfather of the American Revolution, who became a much-hated figure in Jacobean Britain due to his advocation for the abolition of monarchy. The book depicted on the reverse is a parody of The Rights of Man, a book written by him and published in 1791. Varieties exist. The date on the open book refers to the date Louis XVI was executed in France.Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token ½ Penny (Middlesex - Spence's / End of Pain) ND (1793-1797) coin is that it was issued during a time of economic hardship in the United Kingdom, specifically during the Napoleonic Wars. The coin was minted privately by a merchant named John Spence, who was granted permission by the government to issue tokens to alleviate the shortage of small change. The coin's design features a unique combination of symbols, including a crown, a rose, and a thistle, which represent the unity of the British Isles. Additionally, the coin's name "End of Pain" refers to the end of the war and the hoped-for return to a period of peace and prosperity.
