Conder Tokens Article

Conder Tokens
By
Dewey Maggard

The word 'Conder' is a misnomer--but we are stuck with it..as that is the name of a man who has had a great deal to do with what really is Provincial token coinage of the 18th Century--However, there were private issues of tokens used as money in the mid 17th century, England.

Lack of small change for day to day transactions was a longstanding problem in England. Much was done without the Kings approval, but in the 1760s the crown relented and men of means, Earls, etc. of every Shire began to mint their own tokens for their own change making needs. It is a colorful history--much to lengthy to relate here.

Collecting 'Conders' is a real challenge. I like to collect them because of the immense variety of satire, political critique. Almost every subject being depicted on these tokens...for example Baking bread or a folksy tale.

One of my recent prizes is a token called the Herefordshire Bull, (There are 3 varieties the #1 is the scarest ; ONE). But this token has a mean bull pawing the earth (he is facing left), he is attempting to break his chains. This scene is on the obverse. On the reverse is an apple tree with a plow under the tree. What the coin symbolizes to me is (and I do not know if this was the original intent) is this: John Bull is attempting to break away from the tyranny of King Geo III symbolized by the bull. The reverse symbolizes the peace and tranquility of the rural scene which people want to be left alone to enjoy, etc., etc.

The Conder token book-(Catalog) costs 135.00 to 150.00 and actually is titled The Provincial Token Coinage of the 18th Century. It was authored by two men named Dalton & Hamer. It has or is a good investment for anyone who wants to get into old beautiful coppers that all tell a different story.

Lady Godiva is among these tokens riding in the nude with long flowing hair side saddle. The engravers or designers forgot one important thing however with this coin or token...side saddle had not been invented in England at that time when she made her ride.

My Bull is a large copper between 1/2 and dollar size. One a bit better than mine runs 395.00 and up there are many tokens that can be had for 10-to 15.00 dollars in about fine. These tokens were made in every shire of England; also Ireland and Scotland. Much of our own colonial coinages were copied from these wonderful pieces of emergency money.

It is interesting to me to note--being that my first love is ancient coinage, is the fact that the English copied many of their designs from Roman coinages. This Bull for example appears in the exact stance pawing the earth etc--on at least three ancient Roman coins. One is a gold aureus of Augustus (I can not afford him--cost is $13,000 just a month ago) then there were two more emperors who copied Augustus--one was Emperor Nerva, and the other one is Emperor Trajan (Traiono) etc., etc.

The thing about these earlier coinages is that there is so much knowledge that can be acquired with a bit of study. There is so much beauty in a myriad of designs. We do not have this in our modern coinage. The entire monetary systems of the western world can be traced back to Babylon. I am speaking of the original weight standard of the Shekel. --I'm getting away from the Conders--

The thing is you can not collect everything-but you can learn about these things--and just collect a few--knowing always that there are others out there waiting to be had. I can not say that for a Liberty Head Nickel, or Barber Half (other than get into variety perhaps) but everyone to their own. More than half of the so-called collectors out there do not really know why they collect--or where they are going. Well, enough said. I can go on and on and time does not permit it for you or myself.

Regards
Dewey