The Collection of 18th Century Tokens formed by Dr David L Spence

Birmingham, George Barker, Penny, 1800, bust of Britannia right, diva britanniæ fautrix artium around, rev. the work of iohn gregory hancock aged nine years above date, utile dulci above, for exchange below, edge by george barker birmingham mdccc, 36.60g/12h (DH 19). Trifling marks in reverse field, otherwise extremely fine with brilliant surfaces, extremely rare (£600-800)

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

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Collection

Provenance:
W. Anderson Collection, Davisson Mailbid Sale 13, 25 April 2000 (777).

24 struck. George Barker, FRS (1776-1845), lawyer and coin collector, Newhall street, benefactor to the city of Birmingham and proponent of the London and Birmingham Railway, son of George Hollington Barker. The token was attested by Barker to be the work of the 9-year old child prodigy John Gregory Hancock Jr (b. June 1791, baptised January 1792), who presumably died young (Dykes, BNJ 1999, p.186)