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1794 England Middlesex Kempson\'s Newgate Prison Halfpenny Conder Token With XF+ to AU Features D&H-393
This is a 1794 Middlesex – Newgate / Symonds Halfpenny Conder Token.Beautifully toned with crisp distinct detailsPlease See Pictures to Judge for Yourself, Coin Shown is the One You Will Receive
Historical Context:
Conder tokens (also known as 18th-century provincial merchant tokens) were minted in Great Britain during the late 18th century to address a severe national shortage of small-denomination copper coins. This specific token doubles as a political propaganda piece. The four names listed—Symonds, Winterbotham, Ridgway, and Holt—were notable political radicals and reformists who were simultaneously imprisoned together in London\'s notorious Newgate Prison during the 1790s. They were charged with sedition or publishing \"subversive\" literature, such as Thomas Paine\'s radical texts.
The \"Residence\": The phrase \"Payable at the Residence of...\" is a darkly satirical joke. Their \"residence\" at the time was actually Newgate Prison in London, where they were all serving out their sentences together. The other side of this token (the obverse) features a detailed illustration of the front facade of Newgate Prison itself. Because of its backstory, it is widely collected both as a piece of trade token history and as an early artifact of political propaganda.
DH #393.Copper.9.45 grammes.
