Watch List notes:

BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, John Wilkinson (1728-1808), industrialist with interests in both iron and copper, Copper Halfpenny (6), 1790 Vulcan reverse, all edge WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY, obv bust right, IOHN WILKINSON IRON MASTER, plain coat with collar, upper tie of queue points to O of IOHN, no stop after R (2), rev figure of seated, HALFPENNY, Y of HALFPENNY above bar, stop below bar and above top pennant (Atkins p.232, 284; D&H Warwickshire 424); rev foot of Y of HALFPENNY points to bar, stop below bar and below top pennant (2), (Atkins p.233, 286bis; D&H Warwickshire 425); obv upper tie of queue points to OH of IOHN (D&H Warwickshire 427); obv nose to second limb of M, rev Y of HALFPENNY opposite bar, stop between top and lower pennant (Atkins p.233, 286; D&H Warwickshire 428); obv upper tie of queue points to OH of IOHN, nose to centre of M, rev Y of HALFPENNY touches bar, stop just above lower pennant (Conder p.173, 121; Pye p.48, 8; Virt p.117; Atkins p.233, 287; D&H Warwickshire 429); obv stop after R in line with the inside of legend, rev Y of HALFPENNY just above bar (Atkins p.233, 288; D&H Warwickshire 430). Generally very fine to extremely fine, D&H 430 better. (6)

D&H 425, D&H 429 ex Dalton Collection

D&H 427, D&H 428, D&H 430 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: £150-200