Ancient, Celtic, British and World Coins. Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

18th Century, Middlesex, Middlesex, T. Spence, Halfpenny, bust of Daniel Mendoza left, rev. boxers (DH 785). Extremely fine with a hint of original colour, rare (£300-350)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, 18th Century Tokens from the Joel Spingarn Collection.

View
Collection

Provenance:
R C Bell Collection, DNW Auction 26, 1 October 1996, lot 95.

Literature:
Bell, Specious Tokens, p.175, illustrated. See Colour Plate V.

Daniel Mendoza (1764-1836), known in boxing circles as ‘The Jew’, enjoyed a lengthy prize fighting career during which he earnt the patronage of the Prince of Wales. He became Champion of England in 1789, the same year that his book, The Art of Boxing, appeared. He subsequently opened a boxing school with his partner, William Ward, at the Lyceum in 1791 (see lot 1116)