Will PCGS holder Evasion pieces?

1834

Will PCGS holder Evasion pieces?

TwoKopeiki

I would assume no, since they would fall under the counterfeit category.

Sapyx

Most of them (I'm thinking of the British ones) would probably classify as "tokens".

Does PCGS do tokens?

TwoKopeiki

This is not really the territory I've ever ventured in, but aren't evasion tokens simply coins minted by private parties made to closely resemble legal tender, but modified enough to avoid being prosecuted for counterfeiting?

worldcoinguy

How about some pictures of evasion pieces?

Sapyx

<< <i>This is not really the territory I've ever ventured in, but aren't evasion tokens simply coins minted by private parties made to closely resemble legal tender, but modified enough to avoid being prosecuted for counterfeiting? >>


Basically, yes. The Columbia farthings are one example of an evasion.

Here is another evasion, one that I've had in my collection for ages - this was my first "coin" from the 1700's. It's dated 1793, and features "Isaac Newton" on the obverse, rather than the king. It's listed in D&H as Middlesex #1160.

BCNumismatics

Steve,
That's a very nice Evasion Farthing trader's currency token that you've got there.The Farthings are far harder to find than the Evasion Halfpennies.

One day,I will post up my few Evasion traders' currency tokens.

The reason why these issues are called Evasions,is the inscriptions have been deliberately changed to evade the law that punished coin forgery with the death penalty.Yes,even the forgery of copper regal British coins carried the death penalty.

I haven't seen any specialised catalogue of the Evasion series,either years ago or recently.

Aidan.

Daltonista

Hi, all ~

I believe Atkins' 1892 work on Tradesmen's Tokens is considered authoritative on these, but I have come across them also in "Batty's Catalog of the Copper Coinage of Great Britain," which was published in 1898 and is now available on Google Books, as is Atkins.

What I'm totally unclear about, since I haven't researched them at all, is where these 1772 halfpennies fit in...more like Machin's Mill pieces, maybe? Or are they just plain counterfeits? There is apparently some evidence that they circulated more on this side of the Atlantic than in England, as they wouldn't have triggered much by way of interest from the Crown's law-enforcement minions (if there were any) here and in Canada.







BTW, Seaby's catalog of "British Tokens and their Values" has a list of evasion coppers at the end...sparsely illustrated, but quite a list, with values now dating back 24 or 40 years, depending on your edition. As Sapyx points out, the Isaac Newton piece is really a D&H-listed Conder, rather than an evasion copper, but that may just be some flukey cataloging...Atkins doesn't mention it.

Best to all ~
Tom

(Later edit for spelling.)

BCNumismatics

Tom,
Those look like very worn genuine British 1/2d. coins that you've got there.

The Evasions are classed as being a subgroup within the Conder series.The term 'Conder' isn't really used either over here in New Zealand or in the U.K..

To me,a trader's currency token is just an unofficial coin,albeit,one that is of historic & social interest.

Aidan.

Daltonista

Aidan, many thanks for sending me back to the books. Haven't looked at a K/M in years, but there it is in my Seaby "Coins of England and the United Kingdom."
I do have one of this date in the bank vault that happens to be xf or au, according to my spreadsheet...will have to dig it out and see how it's doing, maybe photograph it for the forum's
next British Friday.
Just checked Craig, too, and here's what I found out about the 1770-75 halfpennies in particular: "Note: Lightweight counterfeits...are common, often having blundered legends and earlier or later dates. Such bad pieces weigh less than 8 gr." Yet another research thread to follow with these three in particular (referring to the photos posted above).
These were culls from a huge hoard of Conders and Davis coppers I picked up a few years ago...never bothered to consider that they might be anything but "exonumia."
Thanks for reminding me that it's never to late to learn something new!
(...in coins as in life, I might add.)
Best to all ~
Tom