Rare P. Ratley's Curiosity Shop (Middlesex) copper halfpenny token dated 1795. Obverse: View of an art collector, with a candle in hand, viewing a painting held by a tired assistant with legend "︙P. RATLEY. DUKE'S COURT ST MARTINS. DEALER IN DRAWGS PICTE•S, & CURIOSOTIES". Reverse: Shore scene with sailing ship, cliff, tree and various sea shells on the beach and legend: "SHELLS. ORES. & MINERALS. BOT SOLD. OR EXCHANGED. 1795". Plain edge. P. Ratley was a curiosity dealer with a shop at 21 Duke's Court, St. Martin's Lane, London. The obverse was an excellent copy of Morland's "The Connoisseur and Tired Boy, see below. Listed in Bell's "Tradesmen's Tickets and Private Tokens 1785-1819" as "R - RARE" with only of 72 in copper. Lovely collectable condition with a little original lustre remaining in legends, see photograph. D&H Middlesex No: 465. Diameter 29.9mm. EF. £375.00
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