This story of one of my favorite tokens is excerpted from my 2002 More Adventures With RareCoins, a book that showcased 50 of my favorite numismatic items. For more information, you can readThe 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens, written by Katherine Jaeger and myself, available fromnumismatic booksellers.

A Planned Settlement in Kentucky
In 1796 in England, Philip Parry Price, either surnamed Myddelton or from Myddelton, planned a realestate promotion whereby British citizens were to purchase tracts of land in Kentucky. To furtherthis ambition, he commissioned the Soho Mint, a private enterprise operated by Matthew Boulton andJames Watt in Birmingham, to create an appropriate token or medalet. Most likely, these pieces wereproduced primarily for numismatists, rather than prospective customers for land. Today, severaldozen examples exist in silver (primarily) and copper, all with Proof finish.

The obverse is inscribed BRITISH SETTLEMENT KENTUCKY and illustrates Hope (representing Britain)presenting two of her children to the goddess Liberty who welcomes them with an outstretched arm,with a cornucopia of plenty behind her, this representing the bounty of America.

The reverse shows the goddess Britannia, dejected and defeated, possibly an allegory to the lossof her citizens or, reaching back further in history, the British losing the Revolutionary War (thelatter the suggestion in Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins).

From an era in which tokens and medals often carried subtle as well as obvious messages, thisparticular piece ranks high in numismatic interest today. And, it has been thus for a long time. Inhis 1875 book, The Early Coins of America, Sylvester S. Crosby paid this piece the ultimatecompliment: "In beauty of design and execution, the tokens are unsurpassed by any piece issuedfor American circulation."

Diesinker Kuechler
The dies were cut by Konrad Heinrich Kuechler (usually given as Conrad H. Kuechler) a gifted artistwho also prepared the three different Washington Seasons medal motifs about the same time. Strikingwas accomplished at the Soho Mint, Birmingham, England.

To read the complete article, see:
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