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 Replies: 8 / Views: 3,622 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Okay, pretty bad condition as its been buried. But it has all the detail I need and although the reverse is a common one, It is a nice one. Pidcock's exhibition was a zoo of amazing animals. They had exotic birds, rhinos, the largest elephant seen in the UK, pelicans, a lion! All in 1790s England - and securely caged so 'that the most timorous may approach them in safety.' The Rhino even pulled a carriage and toured to promote the exhibition! on this coin it shows the two headed cow they had. Funky or what? But poor Chunee: Quote:
The public paid to see him and his speciality was to hold a sixpence in his trunk before returning it to visitors. Sadly he was neglected and one of his tusks was rotten which made him very bad-tempered. In 1826 on one of his regular walks down the Strand, he broke loose from his leash and ran amok, killing one of his keepers.
He was quickly captured but it was decided that Chunee had become too dangerous to be on public show and a date was set for him to be put down. On March 1st 1826 his keeper tried to give the elephant a dose of poison but he refused to take it, becoming enraged and ramming the bars of his cage.
Attempts were then made to shoot him - the local Yeomanry arrived and fired a total of 152 musket balls into the poor elephant but Chunee would still not lie down. Finally, one of his keepers was obliged to finish him off with a harpoon.  And heres the token I bought, a little rough around the edges, a half penny token struck on a farthing sized planchet (this is uncommon but not unheard of): Q~~60_57.jpg)  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3167 Posts |
Yikes, poor elephant.
Neat history though, and love the coin!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3079 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10038 Posts |
Thanks for the story - makes the token more special. Sad this had to happen though. Love the 2-headed cow!
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
The guy is an excellent photographer, its just as it looks in hand. but its VERY mucky. So I've cleaned it up. Ill try and post a photograph tomorrow.
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Valued Member
Canada
126 Posts |
Edited by aswitzer
06/08/2013 12:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Sorry, I missed your post! Came back to link the topic to another. I have no idea what they are worth, but people go crazy on ebay. I shelled out £5.20 for this manky old one - I've seen them go for hundreds for the really nice and rare ones, but yours must be worth quite a bit in such good condition. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
807 Posts |
The importance of proper dental hygiene!
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Replies: 8 / Views: 3,622 |
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Posted 06/01/2013 09:23 am
