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

Leeds, Henry Brownbill, Halfpence, 1793 (8), brownbill edges (7), 12.12g/6h (DH 33), 12.37g/6h (DH 34, bronzed), 12.18g/6h (DH 35), 12.01g/6h (DH 36), 11.80g/6h (DH 37), 12.60g/6h (DH 39), 12.32g/6h (DH 41, bronzed); edge plain, 11.90g/6h (DH 35a) [8]. Bronzed pieces extremely fine with brilliant fields, DH 39 about fine, DH 33 and 36 good fine, others good very fine (£80-100)

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:
Fawcett/Litman Collection, additionally:
DH 33, 35 and 37 F.W. Lincoln Collection, Glendining Auction, 12-13 February 1936, lot 357 (part) [35 from Baldwin, 37 from J. Henry]
DH 36 Major R.W. Richardson Collection, W. Longman Collection, Glendining Auction, 12-13 March 1958, lot 339 (part) [from Spink January 1918]
*DH 41 W. Longman Collection, Glendining Auction, 12-13 March 1958, lot 339 (part) [gift of ‘J.E.’].

Henry Brownbill, watchmaker and silversmith, 19-20 Briggate, succeeded by his son Thomas. The true progenitor of the Brownbill tokens was Samuel Birchall, who first contacted Matthew Boulton in December 1792. The order was remitted quickly, with specimens that were presumably bronzed sent to Leeds in February 1793, followed by the bulk of the tokens in two batches despatched in March (Doty, CTCJ June 1998, pp. 26-9)