Watch List notes:

BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, John Wilkinson (1728-1808), industrialist with interests in both iron and copper, Copper Halfpenny (10), 1788 (9), 1790, 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 OH of IOHN, stop after R, rev man working at a forge, curved 1 and straight 7 (2) (D&H Warwickshire 376); obv end of the queue close to the bust (2) (D&H Warwickshire 377); rev date close to the line of the floor (D&H Warwickshire 378); obv stop after R in line with centre of R (2), rev 1 to right of the centre of the support (D&H Warwickshire 379); rev second 8 beyond edge of the anvil (D&H Warwickshire 380); obv upper tie of the queue points to O of IOHN, R touches the frill (2), rev second 8 beyond edge of the anvil (D&H Warwickshire 381); rev 1 to right of centre of the support (D&H Warwickshire 382); obv upper tie of the queue points to OH of IOHN, R touches the frill (2), rev second 8 under edge of the anvil (Conder p.174, 117; Atkins p.229, 265; D&H Warwickshire 383); rev 1 and 7 touch line of the floor (D&H Warwickshire 384); obv plain coat with collar, four buttons on coat, upper tie of queue points to N of IOHN, rev 1790, curved 1 and straight 7 (Atkins p.230, 268; D&H Warwickshire 385). Generally about very fine to extremely fine, D&H 377, 380 and 381 rare. (10)

D&H 376, D&H 377, D&H 379, D&H 380, D&H 384, D&H 385 ex Dalton Collection

D&H 378, D&H 382 ex Lincoln Collection
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