BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, William Lutwyche, (1754-1801), toymaker, later token manufacturer, Temple Row and St Philip churchyard, Copper and White Metal Penny, obv bust facing forward, GLORY BE THINE INTREPID FOX FIRM AS OLD ALBIONS BATTER'D ROCKS around, large letters on inner legend, ALBIONS spelt correctly, S of ROCKS under left limb of X of FOX, rev RESISTLESS SPEAKER FAITHFUL GUIDE THE COURTIERS DREAD THE PATRIOTS PRIDE between a wreath of oak and laurel, edge MANUFACTURED BY W. LUTWYCHE BIRMINGHAM X . X . (Conder p.202, 17; Virt p.129; Atkins p.83, 147; D&H Middlesex 223). Copper toned, good extremely fine, the white metal nearly extremely fine. (2)
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: £80-120