Auction: 24014 - The Alfred Leonard Fuller of Bath Collection of English Silver Coins and Tokens
Lot: 721
SOMERSET, Bath, Culverhouse, Orchard and Phipps, Silver Two-Shillings, undated, BATH TOKEN, arms, supported by Justice and Commerce, TWO SHILLINGS below, rev. A | POUND NOTE | GIVEN FOR TEN | TOKENS | BY | C. CULVERHOUSE | I. ORCHARD | AND | J. PHIPPS, in nine lines, obliquely milled edge, 7.68g, 12h (Davis 15), soft in parts and some light marking, otherwise with a rich cabinet toned, good very fine; another, Culverhouse, Orchard and Phipps, Silver Shilling, 1812, arms, supported by Justice and Commerce, rev. MARGARETS BUILDINGS BATH, A | POUND NOTE | GIVEN FOR 20 | OF THESE OUR | TOKENS | C. CULVERHOUSE | I. ORCHARD | AND | J. PHIPPS, in nine lines, obliquely milled edge, 3.99g, 12h (Davis 16), scratch to reverse, some softness, otherwise cabinet toned, very fine (2)
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 27th 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
£160
Starting price
£5