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19th Century, Lancashire, Manchester, J. Greenwood, oval brass Threepence, value, reverse omnibus inside, 23 x 18mm (MG 1377-8). Very fine (£25-35)

John Greenwood (1788-1851) was the first person to start local public transport in the Manchester area in 1824. Using a one-horse hackney coach, he ran a service several times a day between Pendleton and Market Street. He was succeeded by his son, John Greenwood Jr (1818-86), the issuer of this token, which is believed to have been in use in the late 1850s and early 1860s. The company expanded and ultimately became Manchester Carriage & Tramways, later bought by the corporations of Manchester and Salford to form the basis of their tramway departments. Much further detail and an enlarged colour photograph is sold with the lot