1793 Great Britain D&H-833 ½ P Middlesex Spence’s Token NGC Fine Details Thomas Paine was an Englishman who met Benjamin Franklin in London. Franklin helped him emigrate to America in 1774. After Paine settled in Philadelphia, he became a journalist and wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense. With its publication, he made his reputation as a revolutionary propagandist despite the fact that he had been in America for less than a year. He was opposed to reconciliation with England and attacked the monarchy as a type of government. He urged the colonies to declare independence and establish a republic.

For these views he was despised by most Englishmen. Spence’s Token ironically reflects the views of Englishmen towards Paine. The END OF PAIN, the token’s inscription, is a pun on his name. THE WRONGS OF MAN is a take-off on “The Rights of Man” which was opposed to monarchy. The token is in a fine with “details” grading because it has been polished. There has been some obverse erosion, which shows as marks in the field. The reverse also shows some erosion near the right edge and some chatter marks in the field. The token was struck from rotated dies, which is not noted on the NGC holder.