© ABC Coins & Tokens
© ABC Coins & Tokens
1 Farthing Middlesex - London / Thomas Spence
1795 year| Copper | 2.41 g | 19.86 mm |
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1795 |
| Value | 1 Farthing (1⁄960) |
| Currency | Conder tokens (1787-1797) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 2.41 g |
| Diameter | 19.86 mm |
| Thickness | 1.16 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#76567 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 92% |
Reverse
A crowned figure (George III?) holding a raised sceptre in right hand, riding to left on a bull with an ass's head
Script: Latin
Lettering: AM I NOT THINE ASS
Edge
Plain
Comment
Thomas Spence was a reformer who rarely missed an opportunity to attack the politics of the day and spent some time in prison for his efforts. Spence may have been the first English person to speak of 'the rights of man'.Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token 1 Farthing (Middlesex - London / Thomas Spence) 1795 from United Kingdom is that it was issued during a time of severe coinage shortages in Britain, particularly in the 1790s. The lack of small denomination coins, like the farthing, led to the issuance of private tokens, like this one, by merchants and traders to fill the gap. This coin is a rare example of a privately issued token that was used as a substitute for the official coinage of the time.
