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

Coventry, John Nickson, Halfpenny, 1799, three-quarter bust of John Hales in cap with tassel, holding deed with two seals, rev. elevation of the Free School, windows with lattice-work, edge coventry halfpenny payable by john nickson and date, 16.88g/6h (DH 306). Minor hairlines and traces of a small stain in left of reverse field, otherwise extremely fine and brilliant, bronzed, extremely rare (£200-300)

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:
SNC June 1912 (101770)
Fawcett/Litman Collection.

15 struck before the obv. die broke. John Nickson (1760-1830), leather manufacturer, senior partner in Nickson and Townsend. An antiquarian with an interest in numismatics, Nickson was a friend of Thomas Sharp (see lot 1786) and in 1791 assisted in the founding of Coventry library. The original Coventry Free School, now known as the King Henry VIII School, was founded by John Hales (†December 1571) on 23 July 1545