The Sir David Kirch Collection of Skit Notes

Fleet Bank in England, 50 Pence, 11 May 1811, serial number 4310, signature of R. Denton, some toning and small stains but a nice looking example, very fine and very scarce
Outing 4018d £100-£150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Sir David Kirch Collection of Skit Notes.

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Collection

Richard Denton was an engraver who appears to have produced these ‘Fleet Bank’ notes from his cell in Fleet Prison! When a copper printing plate was discovered in his possession he was sentenced to six more months for the offence. He claimed he was doing it to make ‘a few pence for his family while confined’.
This is a very passable imitation of a Bank of England note, the ‘Fleet’ part of the title being printed in tiny lettering, and the vignette incredibly similar to that on genuine examples. There are numerous contemporary court cases where people (innocently or otherwise) were imprisoned or even transported for uttering (paying with) these notes.