Watch List notes:

BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, John Wilkinson (1728-1808), industrialist with interests in both iron and copper, Copper Halfpenny (7), 1791, Vulcan reverse, all edge WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY, obv bust right, IOHN WILKINSON IRON MASTER around, plain coat with collar, upper tie of queue points to OH of IOHN, no stop after R, rev figure of Vulcan seated, HALFPENNY above, Y of HALFPENNY above bar, stop below bar and above top pennant (Atkins p.233, 289; D&H Warwickshire 432); obv upper tie of queue points to H of IOHN, stop after R in line with inside of the legend, rev stop touches the top pennant (Conder p.173, 122; Atkins p.233, 290; D&H Warwickshire 433); obv upper tie of queue points to OH of IOHN, stop after R in line with inside of the legend, rev stop below the bar and above the top pennant (D&H Warwickshire 434); obv upper tie of queue points to first limb of H of IOHN, stop after R in line with inside of the legend (2), rev stop touches top pennant (D&H Warwickshire 435); obv nose to second limb of M, rev stop between top and lower pennant, hammer touches E of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.233, 291; D&H Warwickshire 436); rev Y of HALFPENNY just below bar, stop below lower pennant (D&H Warwickshire 437); obv no buttons on coat, rev Y of HALFPENNY above bar, stop between top and lower pennant, hammer to left of E of HALFPENNY (Pye p.48, 9; Atkins p.233, 292; D&H Warwickshire 438). Generally very fine to extremely fine, D&H 432 with a spot of corrosion, otherwise good extremely fine, D&H 434 and 437 very rare. (7)

D&H 432 ex Lincoln Collection

D&H 433, D&H 436 ex Given Collection

D&H 434 ex Oxford Collection

D&H 437 ex Valentine 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: £150-250