Watch List notes:

BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, John Wilkinson (1728-1808), industrialist with interests in both iron and copper, Copper Halfpenny (11), 1787, forge reverse, all edge WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY, obv bust right, IOHN WILKINSON IRON MASTER, plain coat without collar, upper tie of the queue points to O of IOHN, stop after R (2), rev man working at a forge, curved 1 and 7 (D&H Warwickshire 356); rev 1 nearly under the centre of the support (D&H Warwickshire 357); obv upper tie of the queue points to IO of IOHN, rev straight 1 and curved 7 (Conder p.172, 115; Atkins p.229, 258; D&H Warwickshire 358); obv upper tie of the queue points to I of IOHN (2), rev second 7 to edge of the anvil (D&H Warwickshire 360); rev second 7 extends beyond edge of the anvil (Conder p.172, 116; Atkins p.229, 261; D&H Warwickshire 361); obv R some distance from the frill, rev curved 1 and straight 7, second 7 to edge of the anvil (Atkins p.229, 260; D&H Warwickshire 362); obv upper tie of the queue points to OH of IOHN, rev curved 1 and 7, second 7 extends just past edge of the anvil (Atkins p.229, 255; D&H Warwickshire 363); obv upper tie of the queue points to O of IOHN, rev second 7 extends just past edge of the anvil, date equally spaced (Atkins p.229, 257; D&H Warwickshire 364); obv upper tie of the queue points to IO of IOHN, R touches the frill, rev 1 and 7 close together (D&H Warwickshire 365); obv upper tie of the queue points to OH of IOHN, R touches the frill, rev second 7 under anvil (D&H Warwickshire 367); obv upper tie of the queue points to O of IOHN, tail of the R cut off by the frill, rev second 7 extends beyond edge of the anvil (D&H Warwickshire 368). Some spotting and blemishes, otherwise generally very fine to good extremely fine, D&H 356, 364, 365 and 368 rare, D&H 357 and 360 very rare, D&H 367 extremely rare. (11)

D&H 356, D&H 360, D&H 364, ex Dalton Collection

D&H 358, D&H 363 ex Dudman Collection

D&H 361, D&H 365, D&H 368 ex Spink
Wilkinson was successful in the development of a steam engine cylinder for the firm of Boulton & Watt in 1775, later issuing large quantities of tokens ostensibly to pay his employees. The tokens were referred to as "Willy's" and were heavily counterfeited. His use of his own portrait on the tokens was the subject of a satirical tract in the London Magazine in 1787. Wilkinson repeatedly reduced the weight of his tokens in an effort to shave costs and when he attempted to pay some of his employees in countersigned French assignats, parliament stepped in and stopped the practice in 1793.

Estimate: £200-300