James Lackington Halfpenny

Thanks for the link Lucky_Cuss! I just purchased a Lackington halfpenny token at the last Deane sale, got 2 for 1 in a lot, one decently struck one and another error strike (posted here). Really great article on an interesting man. I was wondering about his story, the article makes it a great bit of British history and reading.

Yes, a lot of those tokens were advertising, but they are extremely interesting because of that.

Here's an earlier version of a Lackington halfpenny. I'd remark that it seems to me the diagnostic key for evaluating the grade of these is the extant detail of the central figure on the reverse. I'll add that I initially thought this figure to represent a Greek muse (Lackington's emporium was named "Temple of the Muses" after all), with the wreath and trumpet suggesting Thalia in particular. However, in that case the wings would be anomalous. I then found another article about James Lackington in which this figure was identified as Fama (or Pheme) which would appear to be correct.

See: https://www.classicsandclass.info/product/71/

And also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheme

One more account of James Lackington's life story: https://mertonhistoricalsociety.org...r-1746-1815/