Description
Great Britain, Middlesex (London), Political and Social Series, William Lutwyche (1754-c.1801, toymaker at Temple Row and, later, St Philip’s churchyard, he was responsible for coining a huge variety of trade tokens), White Metal Penny Trade Token, undated (c.1797), obverse: bust of Charles James Fox facing (The Honourable Charles James Fox, 1749-1806, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned 38 years; he was the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger and rose to prominence in the House of Commons as a forceful and eloquent speaker with a notorious and colourful private life; with the coming of the American War of Independence and the influence of the Whig Edmund Burke, Fox’s opinions evolved into some of the most radical ever to be aired in the Parliament of his era : he became a prominent and staunch opponent of King George III, whom he regarded as an aspiring tyrant, and supported the American Patriots, even dressing in the colours of George Washington’s army; he was noted as an anti-slavery campaigner, a supporter of the French Revolution, and a leading parliamentary advocate of religious tolerance and individual liberty), GLORY BE THINE INTREPID FOX FIRM AS OLD ALBIENS BATTER’D ROCKS around, small letters on inner legend, ALBIENS incorrectly spelt, S of ROCKS under centre of O of FOX, reverse: RESISTLESS SPEAKER FAITHFUL GUIDE THE COURTIERS DREAD THE PATRIOTS PRIDE, edge plain, diam. 35mm (Dalton & Hamer “The Provincial Token Coinage of the 18th Century” 222).
Extremely fine and retaining much brilliance, some contact marks and light flecking.
