British Coins, The Walker Collection, Victoria, Sir Joshua Mason's cupro-nickel demonstration tokens (2), c. 1875, mermaid, rev. SUITABLE FOR COINAGE, 26mm. (cf. Tansley 502), very fine, scarce (2)
Sir Josiah Mason (b. 1795), Birmingham industrialist and philanthropist, knighted 1872. The mermaid on the 'coin' was the heraldic badge of his Trust and Mason's College.
(30-50 GBP)