BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, Peter Kempson, (1755-1824), buttonmaker, later token manufacturer, St Mary's Row, Birmingham, later Little Charles Street, Copper Halfpenny, obv a building, FREE SCHOOL around, type three reverse, shield of arms, MAKER OF BUTTONS MEDALS &c. BIRMINGHAM around, P. KEMPSON. above, P of P. KEMPSON aligns over space between O and F of OF, stop after KEMPSON, edge PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF ALEXR MOLISON . X . (D&H unlisted, Davisson as D&H Warwickshire 200a). Good extremely fine and exceedingly rare, this the only example traced.
ex F S Cokayne Collection, acquired 23 August 1938 for 42/-
Kempson was actively involved in the production of tokens from 1791 until 1799, turning out more than 60 tons of "legitimate provincial coins" for various commissions. Kempson also freely muled dies in his possession, and produced a variety of tokens for sale to collectors.
Estimate: £200-300