Obv: Bust facing right, RT. HR. C.J. FOX around, JAMES below. Rev: A soldier and two citizens, WE ALSO ARE THE PEOPLE around, 1796 in exergue. Edge: SPENCE X DEALER X IN X COINS X LONDON X.
Good Extremely Fine. Tiny reverse spot.
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.