In my quest to complete the circulating coinage of my ancestors, those from Ireland, the fascinating� sub-type of coin collecting Condor Tokens drew me in when finding and buying the beauty in the images. The Cronebane-Wicklow, the subject of the week.� � � � � �Enjoy!

Is anyone aware of a reference book or catalog that lists all of the tokens made relating to the Schenectady/Albany, New York area?

UPDATE:� The Smithsonian Institute has one of these tokens in their collection as part of their National Museum of American History.� According to their website, these tokens were made in the early 20th century by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connectictut.� Scovill made, among other things, buttons, tokens, coins, and medals... and staplers, as my mother had a Scovill stapler at her desk for many years.

Hi. Yes this will be a short blog on some of the buildings on Kempson tokens. The ones I chose today are a few of the buildings still standing� from the time they were built. Some are so good it looks like Kempson took a picture of them.. The best part is the years these buildings were put up. I'm not talking 1797. Some of these were built in the 1300's the 1500's. and so on. Just think of that for a moment.�� � � � �The English were excellent record keepers so the dates were not just put on these. You can say some went over rehabilitation but the original face of the structure is the same. Now Kempson almost seems like he knew these would still be around for hundreds of years even some of the gates that protected the city still stand. They are beautiful works architecture. The wall that encircled the city parts still stand.� � � � �Doing research I said I wonder if some of these are still standinng. I went to work and i was surprised. St.John's church later became St.John's High School.� I wrote a journal of these at N.G.C. A few days later I get a message from a fellow collector . He said I went to St John's school there I grew up in Coventry.. Small world. I asked him if he or if he knew of others that lived there if they had any of these tokens. He said none. Passed down from his family he was told they used them.� � � Now I bet if I continued� I will find more.� This is something I thought of after the set was finished. The other tokens I collect many are still standing. Not just Kempson but others. Cathedrals ,government buildings. If you check Kempson other set of building of London many still stand. Some were destroyed in WW. 11.� Hitler had an obsession with� Coventry. He bombed it a lot. One famous Cathedral. St. Paul's� he wanted destroyed. He felt it be could level this Cathedral it would take the resolve from� the people and he could take England. He sent over 200 bombers and St.Paul's still stands.� The people stayed inside and put out the fires. It was built if I remember by Wren. It's in the heart of London. One thing NGC graded many Red Brown the token below it looks like the lights are on!! St.Marys� � � � Sorry I got it the topic. That's ok the two are connected. St. John's token and picture like I said look so much alike.� The same with Bablake and St. Mary's Hall. St. Mary's is used as a catering hall today and� ceremonies.� If you look at the token and the picture there is a wonderful likeness. . I will end this short blog on these wonder tokens and buildings. I hope.you see the talent of this man.� We need people like this working today the old way. The way commens were done and older.coins. No lasers here.!!Be well be safe!!� � � ��

Hi everyone. Many of you have heard of or� read blogs on Conder Tokens.� Some have never heard of them. I will try to keep it simple. Back in the 18th century Britain was in very bad shape financially. With the wars they had they were near bankrupcy. Now what happened next is they started to make these tokens. Just like we did in the Civil War. The difference they had terrific die sinkers and manufacturing.� � � � � � Now I will not list all of the great die sinkers I will tell you about Peter Kempson.. He was one of them. Now a person by the name of Conder noticed these showing up and he was the first to document them. They became Conder tokens. Now� the purpose was to be able to buy things. On the edge there was a writing on most but not all. They made half penny's and pennys. The edge writing would tell you were you could exchange these for products. And also the price of the token.� � � � � These tokens were made of famous people famous sites political and for buying goods. The token you see below is the Soho Mint. They made most of them there a few were made privately. Now your in the 1700' s to make a token wasn't easy . Just the die would take time.� The Soho Mint and below made 80 tokens at a time. They used steam presses. And they came out beautiful. I have a set it took five years to put together. It has 19 tokens and they were made by P. Kempson. He also made a set of England thirty two tokens. I have never heard of a set of these. They would be worth a fortune.� � � � He made this set of Coventry England.famous gates that protected the city. Famous buildings.� He has four reverses plus the fifth the Handel reverse. Three he would put a period after certain letters. Then he made the very rare Handel reverse. There will never be a set of that. They were very rare. The workmanship got my attention. The set I put together is the only one known. N.G.C. agreed but couldn't put it on the label . So instead they put my name on them. It took two years to find the last one.�� � � � They grade from MS 63 to MS 66 with some red brown and a proof like. . These tokens are 244 years old and look like they were made yesterday. The token below shows the token how I bought it. I knew it would grade MS. I sent it in and N.G.C. contacted me saying there was something on it and they could remove it. The graded one is what it looks like after cleaning. This one is not in the set. . There are so many of these Conder tokens. You ask what are they worth. Some hundreds of pounds. The George Washington's token graded MS 61 sold for 25,000 dollars. Yes they have very good prices. But then again your buying art on Copper and bronze. They have so much history. Such workmanship. You can count the bricks and the windows. The cobble stones. This was there tallent.. The token below is of Cardinal Worsely. If you watched the Tudors the story they told of him was not right. Henry the VIII actually liked him . He did not have him imprisoned and he did not kill himself. The gate was dedicated to him he was born in Ipwitch!� � � � � � �Many of these were sold at the time to collector's who kept them in this condition. My set is on the web put in complete Coventry set tokens� it should come up. Well I hope you enjoyed this. Those of you who want to learn more I will be happy to help.� Just send a message. I'm in an auction now for a very special token. Once a week. Druids Revenge sells them in ebay. Take care be well!