Numismatists Tokens and Ephemera, WARWICKSHIRE, Birmingham, Ralph Heaton & Son, 1851, copper (2), view of Crystal Palace, rev. blank, 30mm, 9.82g (Allen B205; Sweeny Adv. 1); legend, rev. a counter within wreath, 23mm, 4.24g/12h (W 530; Sweeny Adv. 10); Ralph Heaton & Sons, cupro-nickel, name above the mint birmingham, rev. large radiant star, 25mm, 4.81g/11h (Sweeny Adv. 13) [3]. Second very fine, others about extremely fine, all rare £80-£100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Tokens from the Late David Griffiths Collection.

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Provenance: Second H. Pegg Collection, Spink Auction 19, 3 March 1982, lot 232 (part).

Ralph Heaton & Son, founded by Ralph Heaton II (1794-1862) and his eldest son, Ralph Heaton III (1827-91), acquired the presses and equipment of the Soho Mint on 29 April 1850. The business was restyled Ralph Heaton & Sons when Ralph III’s brother George joined in 1853; faced with the prospect of retirement, Ralph III converted the family business into a publicly-held limited liability company, The Mint, Birmingham, Ltd, on 22 March 1889. It is thought that the third item may have been struck as an experimental piece while courting the government of Paraguay’s agent in Birmingham, Charles Shaw; subsequently Heatons were given the Paraguayan coinage contract in 1870