Tokens

[waltonbasinman]

Whilst looking up the Chichester token from the Leinthall 3 Rally I came across this token. It is a Middlesex Farthing Token dated 1793 and I found it quite a macarbe subject for a Token. I wonder could Chef or The Doc know why such a subject would be put on a Token.

[Chef Geoff]

Here you go, not my knowledge just a cut and paste job

The inscription "END OF PAIN" is a pun on Thomas Paine, who was hated by most Englishmen of the 1790s. The designer is suggesting that the obverse scene would in fact be a welcome end to Thomas Paine.  The inscription "THE WRONGS OF MAN" is an obvious jab at Paine's book "The Rights of Man" which was published in 1791. The date on the right leaf of the book 21 January 1793 is the date that King Louis XVI of France was executed. The suggestion here is that Paine's ideas lead to the death of the King of France and would do the same for the King of England if his ideas were to gain a following there.

This token is attributed to Thomas Spence by Dalton & Hamer, however it seems most unlikely that Spence an ardent follower of Thomas Paine would have issued a token of this nature.