CoinTalk

Welcome to Coin Talk! Register Now, it's easy and FREE!

Thousands of coin collectors, numismatists, coin dealers, bullion investors, and enthusiasts make Coin Talk their number one source for numismatic news, information about US and world coins, discussions and community.

You are currently viewing Coin Talk as a guest, which limits your access to content, contests and information. By joining our free community, you will be able to join in discussions, contact other members, place free advertisements, enter contests, and much more. Registration is easy and free. Register Now


Go Back   CoinTalk > Coin Forums > Coin Chat

Notices

Coin Chat Please use this section for discussion of numismatic topics that don't fit in other sections.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 12-18-2008, 02:17 AM   #1 (permalink)
.
 
Catbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,447
My Mood:
Talking Going Postal?

Certainly, this proprietor did back in c1794. That is, Christopher Ibberson ran a postal service to all of England out of his tavern and boarding house, the George and Blue Boar inn located in Holborn, London (West End). I have an advertising half penny token that I have bought that I want to share with you!

Old courthouse records show that the George & Blue Boar was well known locally. In September 1796, Charles Scoldwell stood trial for the theft of two tame ducks, valued at 3 shillings. During cross-examination, the driver of the stage coach from Bedford, who had brought Scoldwell to London, was asked: Is there a more public inn in Holborn, or more coaches go from any inn, except the George and Blue-Boar? to which he replied 'I don’t believe so.' In any event Scoldwell got more transportation than he had bargained for.

This is a bronzed proof copper token made by Matthew Boulton who aspired to obtain business from the Royal Mint. Boulton was a perfectionist and invested heavily in steam powered manufacturing of tokens. Ibberson had ordered half a ton of tokens in December of 1794, or about 32,000 pieces. However, the order was halted in February of 1795 so the actual number made is in question, especially a bronzed proof version like mine.

Many token manufacturers made this sort of proof, to more or less coat the flans pre-striking with a brilliant bronzed shell, which fused with the internal copper when struck. Bronzing (resulting in the dark chocolate color - very popular then) is far more resistant to spotting, accounting for the coiner's intension to preserve original beauty in the fairly wet UK climate.

The seller's pictures do not do justice to the token’s strong mirror surfaces and gleam in hand (I tried to capture the mirror finish in my pic that follows the seller's):





The obverse shows St. George fighting a dragon on the ground with a fat boar crest above. The "J" in Ibberson's is old script for upper-case "I," with which it is interchangeable. I am not sure where or when that originated, but it is a frequent style in many old books and writings, and from many countries.

The reverse inscription is encircled by laurel branches. The token’s edge is inscribed “Payable at the George & Blue Boar London”.

I am really enjoying collecting these old British tokens. Do you like this one?

Catbert is offline   Reply With Quote

Old 12-18-2008, 02:35 AM   #2 (permalink)
Supporter**
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,931
My Mood:
Good reading, Thanks Catbert!
__________________

Harryj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2008, 02:38 AM   #3 (permalink)
Numismatist In Training
 
Hobo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,027
My Mood:
Wow! That is a great looking token. Thanks for the history and explanation of how the token was made.
__________________
No state shall emit bills of credit, make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts, coin money . . . - US Constitution, Article 1, Section 10

ANA LM-3799; OHNS LM-59; SUSCC R-4005. All coins stored in bank safe deposit box.
Hobo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2008, 02:52 AM   #4 (permalink)
Supporter**
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Jefferson City, Tennessee
Posts: 3,008
Catbert,

That is one really nice token! Thanks for sharing it and the great history behind it!


Frank
huntsman53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2008, 05:09 AM   #5 (permalink)
Enthusiast
 
sketcherpbr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 662
Send a message via AIM to sketcherpbr
coolest thing EVER
__________________
Monetary values amount to nothing in the face of a coin that's survived centuries to make it into my hand.
sketcherpbr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2008, 07:12 AM   #6 (permalink)
P & R COMMISSAR
 
De Orc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London. UK
Posts: 8,095
My Mood:
Send a message via Yahoo to De Orc
As someone who knows Holborn rather well I find this token quite facinating and very eye appealing as well, another little bit of history for you regarding the George and Blue Boar Inn situated at 270, High Holborn, it used to be the last house of call for refreshment by criminals on their way to Tyburn to be hanged Great story Catburt
__________________
My Notes 1176 to date 02/06/09 http://www.banknotebank.com/?collection=De-Orc

My Coins 2168 to date 02/06/09 http://www.omnicoin.com/?collection=De-Orc
De Orc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2008, 07:16 AM   #7 (permalink)
Coin Hoarder
 
nickelman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Top of Virginia
Posts: 965
Great read. Thanks
__________________
My collection (part of it anyway)http://www.omnicoin.com/user_view.aspx?id=Nickelman

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
Escapee from the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts!
nickelman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2008, 09:34 PM   #8 (permalink)
.
 
Catbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,447
My Mood:
Quote:
Originally Posted by De Orc View Post
As someone who knows Holborn rather well I find this token quite facinating and very eye appealing as well, another little bit of history for you regarding the George and Blue Boar Inn situated at 270, High Holborn, it used to be the last house of call for refreshment by criminals on their way to Tyburn to be hanged Great story Catburt
De Orc - that's a nice extra bit of trivia and I thank you for posting it. Part of the fun for me in collecting these is learning all I can about their history and/or the events surrounding their mintage. Someday I will visit London and England and take in that wonderful country while getting a first hand look at the counties that these tokens represent.

On the other hand, I could buy a lot of tokens for the airfare!

Thanks for all the nice comments. As I collect these, I'll post some more on new pieces with the hope that I won't bore you.
Catbert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-19-2008, 12:49 AM   #9 (permalink)
Numismatist
 
mark_h's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,030
Good post - I like the look of that token.
__________________
the other mark
Best Baan Community
Empty airtite seeks unwanted coins. All sizes welcome.
mark_h is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks
Would you like to support CoinTalk?

Coin Talk Code of Honor
1. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you.
2. Keep it clean, like a 1950s family television show.
3. If you don't like the coin, don't trash the person.

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Postal Orders of the British Commonwealth - New Zealand. Aidan Work Paper Money 0 06-25-2007 03:37 AM
Indian Postal Orders. Aidan Work Paper Money 5 06-24-2007 11:08 PM
Postal Orders of the British Commonwealth - Ireland. Aidan Work Paper Money 4 06-24-2007 10:57 PM
Postal Orders & Postal Notes. Aidan Work Paper Money 4 04-19-2007 05:55 AM
British Armed Forces Postal Orders wanted. Aidan Work Open 0 02-01-2005 10:46 PM

» Newsletter
Sign up for CoinTalk's Newsletter
enter your email address below.
» Unanswered Posts
Do You Have the Answer?
» Sponsors

» Today's Top Posters
Top Posters in Last 1 Days
[74]
[25]
[20]
[16]
[16]
[16]
[15]
[14]
[14]
[13]

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:51 PM.


vBAdvertise v1.0.0 Copyright ©2009, PixelFX Studios
vBCredits v1.4 Copyright ©2007 - 2008, PixelFX Studios
Copyright 2008 CoinTalk
"Wiki" powered by VaultWiki v2.5.0.
Copyright © 2008 - 2009, Cracked Egg Studios.