Obv: Bust to left, JAMES under, T. SPENCE A STATE PRISONER IN 1794 around. Rev: Janus head of an ass and man conjoined, ODDFELLOWS. A MILLION HOG. A GUINEA PIG. (around). Edge: Plain.
Extremely Fine and bronzed. Smaller flan than most farthings at 20mm. Reverse die is heavily polished. Weak overall. Scarce. Farthing.
Known as the first socialist, Thomas Spence was a thorn in the side of the crown during his time. His shop, ‘The Hive of Liberty’, was the source of his publication, ‘Pig’s Meat, or Lessons for the Swinish Multitude, Collected by the Poor Man’s Advocate.” After he declared bankruptcy, he sold his dies to Peter Skidmore, who would proceed to mule his dies with others, creating a whole different take on Spence’s dies.