Offered is an unusual and interesting 1797 Cartwheel Penny of King George III, countermarked ca 1810 by London cutler John Thomas, KM#618 (host), Scott#22.62 TC#164056 (mark). Thomas was a knife and razor maker at Borough High Street from 1806-1836, who also retained a retail premeses at 104 Blackman Street, Borough, appearing as operating this specific business between 1812-19 (with Scott noting that this is to be considered early for a cuter’s countermark).
Davis’ countermarks are found almost exclusively on 1797 Pennies, although does not seem to have produced many of these advertizing tokens, with examples turning up very scarcely (we have only managed to trace around ½ dozen or so) - a reality which is perhaps explained by the fact that multiple punches were used in the countermarking, making it a very manual procedure. Almost all examples today are found quite worn / damaged, with this example being no exception, although it must be stated that this piece remains decidedly better than most. An interesting and scarce countermark.
Offered is an unusual and interesting 1797 Cartwheel Penny of King George III, countermarked ca 1810 by London cutler John Thomas, KM#618 (host), Scott#22.62 TC#164056 (mark). Thomas was a knife and razor maker at Borough High Street from 1806-1836, who also retained a retail premeses at 104 Blackman Street, Borough, appearing as operating this specific business between 1812-19 (with Scott noting that this is to be considered early for a cuter’s countermark).
Davis’ countermarks are found almost exclusively on 1797 Pennies, although does not seem to have produced many of these advertizing tokens, with examples turning up very scarcely (we have only managed to trace around ½ dozen or so) - a reality which is perhaps explained by the fact that multiple punches were used in the countermarking, making it a very manual procedure. Almost all examples today are found quite worn / damaged, with this example being no exception, although it must be stated that this piece remains decidedly better than most. An interesting and scarce countermark.
