Bunch of Conder tokens Here are most of the Conder tokens in my collection. There are probably all common ones (except for maybe the Lunatic Asylum, which I was told is scarce).
Many thanks, Paul. I got this one from CRO at FUN a couple of years ago. I had already owned a Norfolk 11 that had a better strike, but it had some surface problems and I returned it. This one has booming luster not quite shown in the pics.
My latest purchase off of eBay - from seller greattoning Gloucestershire Gloucester DH 8 - a scarce piece made by Kempson for collectors of the day. As anticipated, I can happily state that the token in hand looks nothing like the photo provided by the seller. Instead, it is a beautiful light chocolate brown with reflective surfaces and no hint of toning.
Looking over greattoning's Conder offerings, methinks you got the pick of the litter! I noticed your slab indicates 1/2P rather than 1P and another Conder on his site is dated 1774 (the date a building was erected) rather than "1790's" when the token was produced. I have the impression that whatever goes on the submission form to NGC tends to end up on the slab.
sorry Duke, I didn't know your ebay handle. Your high bid was .04 higher then my high bid but you left time for me to raise the bid. If your high bid had been more than a bid increment over my high bid I might not have re-bid - but to lose it by 4 cents - I had to bid again. I got the token for a really good price. Since they were made for collectors uncirculated pieces are the norm and you should not need to settle for less. These should be in the $100 price range for clean UNC examples. In this case the sellers pictures probably hurt his final price. Yarm: Notice that his offerings are all in the old form of NGC holder. Mistakes in the labels were quite common, I believe you are right in that NGC just wrote on the label what was on the submission form. NGC seems to be better with the new style holders.
It should be noted that the NGC labeled Warwickshire 174 that the seller currently has is actually a #175. A pretty standard NGC labelling error - they chose the first listed variety of the St. Phillips token when it is actually the second variety - note the period after KEMPSON on the reverse.
I checked and think I neglected to comment on two delectable specimens -- yarms examples of Middlesx 972 and 896 are super. : ) The Perth 10 is a nice pickup, yarm. I spoke with Bill about the name of Perth, and I asked if Perth in Australia had been named after Perth in Scotland, and he responded in the affirmative. Your example is very nice; I like the designs. I'll bet David Peters made some good wine. I, too, have ordered some tokens from Bill's List #63 and should have them here soon, to photograph and post. : ) It's been awhile.
Norfolk, Blofield DH 6 • Halfpenny Conder Token/Medal Here's the first of my five 'new' Conders. This is Norfolk, Blofield DH6, a halfpenny token also sometimes employed as a medal. Its reverse design was also used on some Talbot, Allum and Lee tokens issued in New York City for their store. The issue is rated Scarce based on this description by a dealer in England... Listed in Bell's “Tradesmens Tickets and Private Tokens 1785-1819” as “Scarce” as only twelve pounds weight were struck. .
It was muled with the LIBERTY & COMMERCE 1795 die that was used to produce the New York TAL tokens but that mule was not made for the New York business. The LIBERTY & COMMERCE dies was muled with several other dies from different counties. They were actually made for sale to collectors at the time.
That makes some sense, so I looked back and found nothing that suggested a link between the mules and TAL, indicating that Peter Kempson may have produced the mules for sale to collectors, as you say.
I've posted a few items in the "What's it worth" forum in case anyone's interested. Links: http://www.cointalk.com/t152700/ http://www.cointalk.com/t152702/ Not sure if this is classified as conder, hiho is looking into it for me: http://www.cointalk.com/t152703/
Somerset, Bridgewater 87 Here's the second token from my 5-token order. This is Somersetshire, Bridgewater DH 87, a halfpenny Conder Token in roughly MS-63 RB PL, or possibly Near Gem. The castle side is defined as the obverse in D&H and other guides, though it appears as the reverse on some other tokens. .
Suffolk, Hoxne DH 33d • Halfpenny, ex-Atkins Nice token, yarm. The Blofield design was used for Kempson mules. Here's a link to images that show a DH 87 example with a considerable cud,though I've seen larger cuds on this issue, too. This one has been holed and employed as a medal suspended from a ribbon. I suspect that example was worn by a member of the Fifth Troop at one time. http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/displayRepro.cfm?reproID=E8069-2#content ====================== Here's the third token from this order. This is Suffolk Hoxne 33d, a halfpenny token, ex-James Atkins Collection, sold 1904. I have Atkins' ticket discs in its envelope, outside the cotton liner. It sold in 1904 for three shillings. It grades roughly Near Gem. I now have two very similar halfpenny examples of this issue and one example of the one penny issue. .
Scotland, Lothian, Campbell's, DH 13b Here's the fourth... This is Lothian, Campbell's Snuff Shop, DH13b, a halfpenny Conder Token. This earlier address, 79 is reflected in the center of the date as well. It's quite obvious the die sinker, James, used the same punch to sink the 7's and 9's. Campbell soon moved to 37 St. Andrews St. and issued tokens from that location, too.
Suffolk, Ipswich DH 35 • James Conder Here's the last token from this order. This is SuffolkK, Ipswich 35, a halfpenny Conder Token issued by James Conder himself. I hope to take better photos of this example soon. This token is fully prooflike and about 70% red. These pics will have to do for now. I really enjoy this token, my third of this issue.
Here's one of my Warwickshire #1 - a version in copper. I also have a brass version of the token. I really don't mind the inked collector numbers even though I paid quite a price for the token. They are just part of its history. Who knows, the token may have been part of the collection of D. T. Batty - a collector who inked numbers on (apparently) all of his tokens, they still show up at auction with some frequency.