Moving away from outback, savannah and veldt, this 19th-century farthing-sized medallet celebrates the Uxbridge School of West London, UK. The legend translates literally to "
Go ahead if you are wise," but my hunch leans toward a looser take: "
Go ahead if you think you know what you're doing." It's possible the main device represented a tortoise-vs.-hare sort of challenge to Uxbridge students.
I can't explain the countermark, but I've seen some with Gothic-style initials in the area under the turtle. There's also a version that shows the date 1790 in that spot, and at least one variety appears in exonumia auctions from time to time with a Withers number attached, presumably from the Galata
Token Book 2, which would confer an "Unofficial Farthing" status to this piece.

"If everything seems to be under control, you're just not going fast enough."
--- Mario Andretti
Edited by daltonista
11/04/2021 7:34 pm