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A forgotten token issued by eccentric Connecticut lawyer Aaron White.

1860 Aaron White, New Boston, Connecticut, "Bungton" Token, CT-185, 28mm Diameter, Copper.

A forgotten satirical token re-strike by eccentric Connecticut lawyer and coin dealer Aaron White. It's a reproduction of a 27mm diameter counterfeit British evasion half penny featuring Colonel Kirk. White added the first name "Percie" to the obverse and the word "Own" and a "1686" date. A Bungton or also known as Bungtown is humorous name used in the colonies up until the first half of the 19th century. It was originally applied to imitation British half pennies which circulated in American between 1784-1789 some bearing fictitious dates and also used for any copper coin of depreciated value or insignificance. White struck about 200 of the Bungtons in a proof finish although did not distribute them as his other medals. Upon his death in 1886 along with his 3 ton hoard of coinage found in his house and barn a remaining group of 191 Bungton was discovered. After Elliot Woodward auctioned off the first group of White's coins Edouard Frossard followed with another sale in 1888. Frossard listed all 191 of the Bungton tokens in one lot but described them as "Pierce Clark" in error. To make matters even worse there was also a theft during Frossard's auction of the White collection in which medals and tokens had been stolen. Reading The Numismatist articles from the time of both sales it's also mentioned that some of the copper coinage from the White hoard had been taken to smelters to be turned into alloy. I'm doubtful the hoard of Bungtons reentered the hobby or the token would be far more common. I have never seen one offered in any American exonumia auction listing, however have seen a couple in extra fine condition which have been sold in the UK along side evasion halfpennies just calling it a "Atkins-60a" with the "a" added to indicate it as a later re-strike of unknown origin.

To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!

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