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Auction: 24014 - The Alfred Leonard Fuller of Bath Collection of English Silver Coins and Tokens
Lot: 720

SOMERSET, Bath, Culverhouse, Orchard and Phipps, Silver Four-Shillings, Undated, BATH TOKEN, arms, supported by Justice and Commerce, FOUR SHILLINGS below, rev. MARGARETS BUILDINGS BATH, A | POUND NOTE | GIVEN FOR FIVE | OF THESE OUR | TOKENS | C. CULVERHOUSE | I. ORCHARD | AND | J. PHIPPS, in nine lines, obliquely milled edge, 15.19g, 12h (Davis 1), a couple of faint edge bruises and softly struck in parts, nonetheless with a vibrant cabinet tone and lustrous, extremely fine, very rare

Provenance

The Alfred Leonard Fuller of Bath Collection (1870-1941)




Charles Culverhouse was a baker, Issac Orchard was an auctioneer and upholsterer, and James Phipps was a shoemaker. Charles Culverhouse was declared bankrupt in 1823.

These tokens were advertised as follows in the Bath Chronicle on the 27 February 1812 :

"Base and Spurious Twelvepenny Tokens having for some time incommoded the Public, and it being now discovered that the only Bristol Tokens which freely circulated in this city have been basely imitated to a great extent, we have at length been induced to accede to this presseing solicitations of our friends, and thus announce to the public that they may now be supplied with Silver Shilling Bath Tokens of weight and purity equal, if not superior, to any yet issued.

As our aim has hitherto been, so it will continue to be, to satisfy the public mind and supply them with necessary change of intrinsic worth, as near their nominal value issued can possibly be done without suffering loss by the issue : and the Tokens thus issued will be readily exchanged for Bank Notes in any quantity, at either of our houses - CHARLES CULVERHOUSE, ISAAC ORCHARD, JAMES PHIPPS"

Another advertisement, quoted in "Keene's Bath Journal" on the 1st June 1812 shows the reputation of the tokens in 1812: "Sydney Gardens, Vauxhall, Bath. In honour of His Majesty's Birthday. On Thursday, June 4th, will be A Grand Gala.

To prevent the great inconvenience and delay to the Company at the Gate, and more particular from the present scarcity of change, parties are requested to previously provide themselves with tickets. N.B - No tokens taken but those of Messrs. Garrat & Co. Bristol ; Messrs. Whitmore & Devon, and Messrs. Culverhouse, Orchard & Phipps, Bath."


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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£5