Scarce Monster Sedition Birmingham Penny

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Scarce Political Birmingham (Warwickshire) white metal Conder penny token. Obverse: Sedition depicted as a monster with a human head, wings and forked tail, holding a standard displaying a royal crown on an ermine field, while three of her offspring suckle from her six breasts: "OUR FOOD IS SEDITION". Reverse: A snake in the grass basking beneath a radiating sun: "NOURISHED TO TORMENT.", with "JULY 14. 1791", in exergue. Plain edge. Listed in Dalton & Hamer as "SCARCE". This refers, by implication, to Dr. Priestly who, on 14th July 1791, attended a meeting in Birmingham to celebrate the second anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in Paris. Riots ensued with Dr. Priestly's house, including his library and laboratory, burned by the pro-Government mob, many of whom were killed by the militia, and four hung later. Reasonable collectable condition with some oxidation, see photograph.

D&H Warwickshire No: 34. Diameter 34mm. VF+. £75.00

e-mail David at d-stuart@d-stuart.demon.co.uk to order.