MIDDLESEX. Spence's. Spence's Plan Countermarks. NO LANDLORDS/YOU FOOLS/SPENCES PLAN/YOU ROGUES on well-worn George III Cartwheel Penny; SMALL FARMS/IS/SPENCES PLAN on smooth U.S. Large Cent planchet; SPENCES PLAN//J.W. monogram on smooth Halfpenny flan; YOU FOOLS/SPENCES PLAN//PARTNERSHIP/IN/LAND on smooth Halfpenny flan; SPENCES PLAN/SMALL FARMS (graffiti initials)//AND EVERY BLESSING (line doodle graffiti). C/ms About Fine to About Very Fine. 5 pieces. (Est. $200-$250)
Originally a Chancery Lane bookseller in London, Thomas Spence moved on to the manufacture and sales of tokens, operating from The Hive of Liberty, at his home Number 8 Little Turnstile in High Holborn. A political activist, a firebrand indeed, Spence used his medallic endeavor as a soapbox for his commentary. His activism brought him the acquaintance of Newgate Prison, where he was incarcerated from April 1798 to 1801.
In addition to his large series of Tokens, Spence expounded his political philosophy via countermarks on worn Coppers.
At some time in 1796 or 1797, Spence went bankrupt and sold his stock of flans and dies to Peter Skidmore. As he was imprisoned in April 1798, it is likely that his countermarks were produced in 1797 to early 1798.
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