The Important Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by the late Dr David L Spence, of Pittsburgh (Part II)

Willey and Snedshill, John Wilkinson, Three Shillings and Sixpence, 1788, in silver, bust right, rev. barge sailing left, fine silver around, edge willey snedshill bersham bradley, 15.59g/12h (DH Warwickshire 337). Minor obverse surface marks and a tiny reverse rim bruise below 1 of date, otherwise very fine and toned, rare (£200-250)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by Dr David L Spence.

View
Collection

Provenance:
Bt Seaby 1967.

100 struck; the issue was quickly withdrawn as currency and later distributed privately as medals. John Wilkinson (1728-1808), arguably the best known of the 18th century ironmasters, grew up in Cumbria but at the age of 20 moved to Bradley, near Bilston, to work in the iron trade. In the mid 1750s he became manager of the Willey ironworks on Lord Forester’s estate, near Broseley, and later senior partner; in 1758 he built his first blast furnace at Bradley, which became such a success that by 1772 he had purchased the local manor and estate. In 1774 he constructed the New Willey ironworks, where he built the world’s first large iron barge, The Trial, depicted on the reverse of the token, which was launched on 6 July 1787 (for an alternative view on whether Wilkinson’s boat is shown on the token see Doty, CTCJ May 1997, p.8, footnote). Wilkinson’s vast business empire also encompassed an iron mine and blast furnaces at Snedshill, near Oakengates, sold in 1793-4 and an ironworks at Bersham in the parish of Wrexham, Denbighshire, which he took over from his father Isaac in 1762 and where cannons and the cylinders required for Watt’s rotating steam engine were produced