Century Provincial Tokens of England, Middlesex

Middlesex, Little Turnstile, Thomas Spence; DH 726, halfpenny struck in copper, 10.41g , 28.04mm. The ever-popular boxers fighting, quite an evocative die pairing. Patinated, mostly bronzed appearance, extremely fine

Thompson says, ‘If the year is the date of production, it is unlikely to have been ordered
by Spence. Is it perhaps merely a die-sinker’s error for 1796? Those who have taken the
legend literally may be right, though it is worth noting that both words may be depreciatory.’
Although Thompson did not trace a famous match, it is quite likely to be a reference to the
very famous match between Thomas Johnson and Isaac Perrins, 22 November 1789,
particularly as the two figures differ significantly in stature and the design possibly from an
engraving published in 1790.. Scarce.