BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, Peter Kempson, (1755-1824), buttonmaker, later token manufacturer, St Mary's Row, Birmingham, later Little Charles Street, Copper Halfpenny (11), type one reverse, elephant and castle on a shield, crest a leopard, arms of COVENTRY 17 97 around, P KEMPSON FECIT, no stop after COVENTRY, no stop between P and KEMPSON, edge COVENTRY TOKEN, obv a church, ST. JOHNS CHURCH, ERECTED 1350 (Conder p.170, 94; Virt p.186; Atkins p.225, 219; D&H Warwickshire 261); obv a building, WHITE FRIARS, FOUNDED 1342 (D&H Warwickshire 267); obv a gateway, COOK STREET GATE (Conder p.169, 79; Virt p.191; Atkins p.224, 201; D&H Warwickshire 269); obv a gateway, SPON GATE, TAKEN DOWN 1771 (Conder p.170, 100; Virt p.185; Atkins p.225, 225; D&H Warwickshire 276); obv a gateway, WHITE FRIARS GATE (Conder p.171, 104; Virt p.188; Atkins p.225, 229; D&H Warwickshire 279); obv an ancient cross, COVENTRY CROSS * ERECTED 1544 TAKEN DOWN 1771 (Conder p.169, 81; Virt p.205; Atkins p.224, 203; D&H Warwickshire 286); obv a building, COUNTY . HALL, ERECTED 1784 (Conder p.169, 83; Atkins p.224, 205; D&H Warwickshire 288); obv a building, FORDS HOSPITAL, FOUNDED 1529 (Conder p.169, 85; Virt p.227; Atkins p.224, 209; D&H Warwickshire 293); obv a building, ST MARY HALL, ERECTED TEMP HEN. 6 (Conder p.170, 96; Virt p.206; Atkins p.225, 221; D&H Warwickshire 295); obv a building, FREE SCHOOL, OLD FRONT TAKEN DOWN 1774 (Conder p.169, 87; Virt p.195; Atkins p.224, 211; D&H Warwickshire 297); obv a building, FREE SCHOOL, NEW FRONT 1797 (Conder p.169, 89; Atkins p.224, 213; D&H Warwickshire 299). D&H 261 nearly good extremely fine, the others generally good extremely fine, D&H 299 with a little verdigris, all scarce. (11)
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: £300-400