BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, Peter Kempson, (1755-1824), buttonmaker, later token manufacturer, St Mary's Row, Birmingham, later Little Charles Street, Copper Halfpenny (5), type three reverse, elephant and castle on a shield, crest a leopard, arms of COVENTRY 17 97 around, P. KEMPSON FECIT, no stop after COVENTRY, stop between P and KEMPSON, edge COVENTRY TOKEN, obv a steeple, GREY FRIARS STEEPLE, ERECETED 1254 (Conder p.170, 92; Virt p.189; Atkins p.225, 217; D&H Warwickshire 259); obv a building, THE BARRACKS, ERECTED 1794 (Conder p.168, 76; Atkins p.223, 197; D&H Warwickshire 284); obv a building, COUNTY . HALL, ERECTED 1784 (D&H Warwickshire 289); obv a building, DRAPERS HALL, ERECTED 1775 (Conder p.169, 84; Atkins p.224, 207; D&H Warwickshire 291); obv a building, FREE SCHOOL, NEW FRONT 1797 (D&H Warwickshire 300). Generally good extremely fine and scarce, D&H 300 rare. (5)
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: £150-250