Watch List notes:

BRITISH 18TH CENTURY TOKENS, ENGLAND, John Wilkinson (1728-1808), industrialist with interests in both iron and copper, Copper Halfpenny (4), 1792, Vulcan reverse, first three edge WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY, obv bust right, IOHN WILKINSON IRON MASTER around, plain coat with collar, upper tie of queue points to H of IOHN, stop after R in line with inside of legend (2), rev figure of Vulcan seated, HALFPENNY above, Y of HALFPENNY above bar, stop opposite the bar, top pennant does not extend beyond lower mast, hammer nearly touches E of HALFPENNY (Conder p.173, 125; Pye p.48, 10; Atkins p.234, 297; D&H Warwickshire 448); rev top pennant extends to top of lower mast, hammer touches E of HALFPENNY (Atkins p.234, 298; D&H Warwickshire 449); obv nose to first limb of M, rev top pennant extends past top of lower mast (2), genuine edge (Atkins p.234, 299; D&H Warwickshire 450); edge PAYABLE IN LONDON LIVERPOOL OR BRISTOL (D&H Warwickshire 450a). Generally nearly extremely fine to extremely fine, D&H 450a scarce. (4)

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: £100-150