Obv: An Ass bearing two pairs of paniers, labelled "RENTS" and "TAX'S", I WAS AN ASS TO BEAR THE FIRST PAIR around. Rev: A man fettered, and a padlock on his mouth, A FREE-BORN ENGLISHMAN 1796 around. Edge: Plain.
Good Very Fine. Some wear. Slightly off-struck. Scarce.
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.