William Price's Llantrisant (Glamorganshire) oval copper Cremation Memorial Token dated 1884. Obverse: Serpent around a goat with the vowels of the Welsh alphabet around. Reverse: Legend on five lines: "GWEL JESSU CRIST O YR TAN YN LLYSGO YN LLAW VICTORIA. YM ANWYL GYMMRO YNG GWYDD Y VARN VE BIA CLEDDU TYWYSSOG CARRIAD CORRON CYMMRU JONAWR YR 13 EG 1884" which loosely translates as: "See Jesus Christ in the fire burning in the hand of Victoria. A dear Welshman, a prince of charity, the Crown of Wales, January 13 AD 1884". Plain edge. This commemorates the cremation of Price's first son (called Jesus Christ) which was an illegal act in those days. Price was an extrovert to say the least and considered himself an "archdruid". His first son, fathered while Price was in his eighties, died at five months and Price, determined to cremate the body with full druidic rites, kept the authorities at bay with a pair of pistols while the deed was done. He was charged but eventually found not guilty, his actions leading to the Cremation Act of 1902. He struck 3,000 of these tokens to celebrate his victory and help offset his costs. Nice collectable condition but deposits in legend, see photograph. Withers TB3 No. 2457. Dimensions 37x26mm. VF. £115.00 Ref: Charles Riley's "Welsh Wizardry" - Coin News April 1997 e-mail David at enquiries@abccoinsandtokens.com to order. |