BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, William Lutwyche, (1754-1801), toymaker, later token manufacturer, Temple Row and St Philip churchyard, Copper Penny mule, obv bust of Charles Roe right, CHARLES ROE ESTABLISHED THE COPPER WORKS . 1758 around, three buttons on coat, stop before the date, rev P M Co cypher, 1788 above, WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE PENNY around, edge WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE PENNY (D&H Cheshire 75). Small spot, otherwise good extremely fine with a little faded colour remaining, exceptionally rare, only one other example traced and this the finer of the two.
ex Dudman Collection
ex F S Cokayne Collection, acquired 4 April 1914 for £5/10/-
Lutwyche was active in the production of tokens from 1791 until 1801 and seems to have had more individual commissions for than any other manufacturer. His output of more than 65 tons of "legitimate provincial coins" was exceeded only by that of Thomas Williams, the consortium of Westwood and Hancock, and that of Matthew Boulton. He frequently combined dies then in his possession to produce various mules, concocted numerous specious issues, and has been attributed with manufacturing the bulk of evasions and lightweight coppers that appeared toward the end of the 18th Century
Estimate: £500-700