½ Penny Middlesex - Spence's / Pig ND

Reverse

Legend around three lines of lettering.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
NOTED ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF MAN
THOs SPENCE
Sir THOs MORE
THOs PAINE

Edge

Inscribed, milled and plain edge varieties exist

Comment

1795 Thomas Paine Pig Halfpenny 18th C. Political/Satirical Token issued by Thomas Spence.
Several varieties can be found, some with the date of 1795; the basic design can also be found in the smaller farthing denomination.
We should all be familiar with a book written by Thomas Paine titled, "Rights of Man" published in 1791. This token reflects the political sentiment of the time. Because Thomas Paine is mentioned by name on this token, it is considered an American political collectible also and it's listed as such in some American coin catalogs. This is more true because Thomas Paine also wrote "Common Sense" which is THE book that inspired people to support the Independence movement which did lead to Independence for the United States of America. The "Rights of Man", in two parts, heavily influenced events in France and their Constitution, which inspired many during the French Revolution.
Thomas Spence, (1750-1814), Newcastle schoolmaster and writer who moved to London in 1792, where he set up shop as a bookseller and became an active member of the London Corresponding Society. He allowed his home and shop to be used for meetings and, in May 1794, was arrested along with a dozen others, and remitted to Newgate Prison for his efforts. Upon release he entered the business of selling tokens, publishing a handbill listing twenty obverse and twenty reverse dies that could be ordered paired in any combination, and authoring an early guide to the series, The Coin Collector's Companion in 1795. He issued and sold a variety of tokens before quitting the business in late 1796; his stock and dies passing to Skidmore where they continued to be muled amongst themselves and with others then in Skidmore's possession.

Interesting fact