Just got Photos of my new Conder Token 1797

theboz11

18th. century copper penny token issued in the 1797 by E Davies of Dudley, then in Worcestershire.

Obverse : view of the ruins of Dudley castle. Reverse : 'ED' in olive wreath. Edge : 'I PROMISE TO PAY ON DEMAND THE BEARER ONE PENNY. Diesinker - Jacobs. manufacturer - Skidmore.

Dudley was famous for its nail manufactory and ironmongery at this period and indeed there was an Edward Davies in business as an ironmonger in the town at about this time.

However, it is more likely that the token is specious and was made by Skidmore for sale to collectors at the time. This is supported by the fact that Skidmore used the ED reverse for other building tokens that it are known were made purely for the collectors' market. Pye also regarded them as specious - but there is a just a chance that they were indeed ordered by this Edward Davies as his private tokens.





A different light angle to highlight the die cracks. A significant one from the W in Tower down and out the bottom at 6 o'clock and a long one from the first D in Dudley down to the right and out at the 1 in 1797. A third less sever one is at 4:43 and runs into the castle from door arch


D&H Worcs. 5 35mm.

rwyarmch

So, it should be a snap to compare two specimens and establish how far the cracks in the die have progressed!

I haven't pursued the analysis of die states very far, but flan cracks, laminations and even post striking damage
might complicate it a bit.

theboz11

This die was certainly far along toward failure. That is a magnificent example that you posted. Quite early in the dies life. I see some cracks in yours that must surely be metal defects and not die cracks.

ormandh

VERY,Very nice!!!

rwyarmch

I notice that Dr. Sriro's Middlesex 151 by Skidmore doesn't seem to have cracks (I'm assuming the same obverse die as
Worcester 5 was used.)

I hope to become better informed about die states and other planchet features when the gurus get together at the Seattle
Token Congress in May.

theboz11

I would argue they were not the same die. Note the split in the 7 and the proximity to the building of the last 7. There is a telltale pimple to the lower left of the Doorway A arch on the 5 , but the light or uneven strike does not bring that out in the 151. The E in DUDLEY is weak where it should be strong in comparison.

theboz11

Thought there were more Coder collectors here.

farthing

I love both tokens! It's interesting to look for the very subtle differences between the two dies, most noticeably in the lettering.

Stork

<< <i>Thought there were more Coder collectors here >>


I refuse to be one...I just happen to have a couple now .

I'm often amazed at the level of skill these show--astonishing really. All of these deserve the




Cathy

BCNumismatics

<< <i>Thought there were more Conder collectors here. >>




Dan,
I do collect these,as to me,they are the closest things that cities & towns had to coins.

Have you thought about uploading some photos of your traders' currency tokens here?

There's absolutely none on that photo gallery at all.

Aidan.

Hussulo

Great token and nice pictures.

ormandh

I like that type of token. Very nice!! -Dan