BROADSTRUCK

Ever wonder where the Dance in the sport of Boxing originated from

1789 Isaac Perrins, Warwickshire D&H-13, 1 Penny

This large 34mm diameter copper token/medal was struck to promote the upcoming fight between Perrins and Johnson. It's a tough to locate D&H variety issue free in XF condition and above as most seen are holed for suspension, heavily scratched, or environmentally damaged.

Isaac Perrins:

Born in 1751 was an English bareknuckle prizefighter, engineer, and a man reputed to possess prodigious strength but a mild manner. He fought and lost one of the most notorious boxing matches of the era which was a physically mismatched contest against the English Champion Tom Johnson.

During the period when he was prizefighting Perrins worked for Matthew Boulton and James Watt manufacturers of steam engines at their Soho Foundry in Birmingham. He also traveled around the country and acted as an informant on people who were thought to have breached his employer's patents. In the later years of his life he also ran a public house in Manchester and undertook engineering work on his own account. He was appointed to lead the Manchester fire brigade in 1799 and died a year later in the performance of his duties.

Bareknuckle fighting was particularly popular during Perrins lifetime. Fights ran the risk of being classified as disorderly assemblies but in practice the authorities were concerned mainly about the number of criminals congregating there as the patronage of the aristocracy included royal princes and dukes and other wealthy people.

Isaac Perrins fighting Thomas Johnson in 1789:

London was the premier center for boxing because the aristocratic supporters of the sport. Birmingham was often portrayed as second only to London for the sport and in 1789 there were a series of challenges issued by fighters from the Birmingham area to opponents based around London. These challenges were intended to demonstrate the level of organization and confidence among the Birmingham boxers and their supporters. Three of these challenges were accepted, including that from Perrins to Tom Johnson. Perrins had already issued a general challenge offering to fight any man in England having already beaten all challengers in the counties around Birmingham.

The fight took place on 22 October 1789 and was billed as a battle between Birmingham and London as well as for the English Championship. The two men were around the same age but physically very different. Perrins stood 6' 2" tall and weighed 238 pounds while Johnson was 5' 10" and weighed 196 pounds. It was claimed that Perrins had lifted 896 pounds of iron with ease. The physical mismatch was later described as a fight between Hercules in the form of Perrins and Johnson as a Boy.

The first five minutes of competition saw neither man strike a blow and then when Perrins tried to make contact and Johnson dodged Perrins in return. Although Perrins held the upper hand in the first few rounds, Johnson then began to dance around the ring forcing Perrins to follow in order to make a fight of it. This shifting confused Perrins because the custom at the time was for the fighters to stand still and hit each other but the rules for this particular fight did not prevent it. Nor did they specify what should happen if a contestant fell to the ground which is what Johnson did in order to avoid being hit. Before long both fighters showed signs of their opponent's attacks with first Perrins and then Johnson suffering cut eyes and then further damage to their faces and by the fight's end Perrins head had scarce traces left of a human being. The fight lasted 62 rounds which took a total of 75 minutes to complete until Perrins became totally exhausted.

I'd have to agree with you on this count. I have been very picky on which of this sellers tokens I have bid on. I won't touch that MS67BN PL token; to me it just looks funny (and over graded by 2 or more points).

I'll go 3 points as IMHO just a couple years ago that's something that would have landed in a MS64 holder.

 

wots dis mate? Yer jumpin inta de olde stuf ayre ye, ye scurvy dawg?

Not to worry HT I normally only pick up these tokens if they tie into U.S. history. I was eying this one for about 2 years before it became available as I also collect coin dealer store cards. So this Spence had going for it for me with the full coin dealer reverse instead of just dealer in coins on the edge along with an American Indian on the obverse.

I'd like to own a MS67PL Conder token but hadn't seen one til now (or have I)?

 

Ebay MS67PL! Conder token

 

 

It's funny you bring this example up Bob. I have looked at the pictures of that piece a lot since it was posted a few days ago, and I can't fathom how it received that grade. To my eye, I swear that I can see lacquer on it, but maybe I'm just seeing things.

 

I have purchased several pieces from this seller over the past few months, and I will say that their ability to photograph the coins is pretty bad. ALL of the pieces I have received looked way better in hand than the pictures in the auction. But, I have a pretty good eye for "interpretation" of bad eBay pictures. That being said, my eyes can't quite figure out how this one would get to the MS67BN PL level.

 

What are your thoughts Bob? Others?

 

-Brandon

I've also been watching this seller for well over a year and all I can say is he's had some horrific looking exonumia in high graded holders. The variety which I recently purchased off you brg5658 in a 63 holder far out shined the sellers 66 which I personally feel should have been in a 62 holder. I personally haven't purchased from this seller to date but have seen a good amount of his post sale items with 2 dealers at shows. Viewing them in hand the first thought that normally comes to mind = ugh!

Partial Collar Mint Error - NGC Proof 69 Ultra Cameo

@Broadstruck, I absolutely love that Sac error coin. The color of the coin makes me wish that was the intended alloy.

Thanks as I agree

Sweet Sac error!!

 

I could follow with another Sac but I think the error guys should go crazy with this.

Thanks.... OK few more proof Sac errors

Thanks for the education! You have sufficiently schooled me on this one.

Good to hear!

How did we go from an 1883 Liberty Nickel to a 2000 Sacagawea? This is supposed to be a "Follow The Lead Thread Picture Post" thread. I'm confused.

Elbesaar posted a 1891 5c struck on a foreign planchet...

Which looked like an invatation to post another.

Huh, I didn't know that. Your theory still seems like a stretch, but I guess its more possible than I previously thought.

I didn't know posting a coin in the follow the lead would turn into a debate... Anyhow my coin along with the following 3 others below used to be in a NGC 4 piece multi-holder. It was part of the "Ohio Collection" of mint errors which David Lawrence acquired around 2005. This was one of the finest mint error collections assembled and which had some of the most amazing die caps known such as the MS67 IKE and MS67 split IHC. The 4 piece set of Sac errors was advertised on their site then for roughly $100K and then in 2006 spun through Heritage Platinum Night auction with a reserve of $70K which was not meet. Later encapsulated in separate NGC holders.

 

 

What metal is that?

 

I feel it's on a Canadian $2 Toonie pure nickel outer ring planchet that wasn't punched for a center aluminum bronze insert. It's too heavy to be a $1 Loonie or struck on a Barbados $1. This example was once described as being struck on an Iceland commemorative planchet, but I haven't investigated this opinion yet as the diameter is considerably greater. My main reason for purchase is that I've always wanted a transitional Sac struck on a SBA planchet... Yet I snoozed and these have doubled in price over the years and now fetch about $16K.

 

In order to be a legitimate error, it would have to be on something that could actually be mixed up. Canadian Toonies are struck at Canadian mints - the only way one of those planchets would get there would be someone actually putting it there - and thus wouldn't be an error as much as an intentional misstrike.

The Royal Canadian Mint in 1999 and 2000 supplied planchets for 5c pieces and Sacagawea Dollars to the U.S. Mint and to assist and alleviate the production constraints caused by the introduction of the new Sacagawea Dollar in 2000.

 

 

What metal is that?

I feel it's on a Canadian $2 Toonie pure nickel outer ring planchet that wasn't punched for a center aluminum bronze insert. It's too heavy to be a $1 Loonie or struck on a Barbados $1. This example was once described as being struck on an Iceland commemorative planchet, but I haven't investigated this opinion yet as the diameter is considerably greater. My main reason for purchase is that I've always wanted a transitional Sac struck on a SBA planchet... Yet I snoozed and these have doubled in price over the years and now fetch about $16K.

$5 1808/7 Breen-6455, B-2A. Rarity-5 Obverse Struck Thru Mint Error ex Harry W. Bass Jr. collection, formally Quality Sales Corporation’s auction of the estate of John A. Beck, Part I, January 1975, Beck began collecting in the late 1860's. It's the only John Reich error known for this series, as it has a large planchet strike through imperfection which covers star 4 on the obverse. The obverse also has a diagonal bisecting crack from the border at 1:00 through the cap and head of Miss Liberty to star 2. Another crack from the border through star 11 almost reaches the hair.

How about a New Orleans Eagle with a Lamination Error the size of a Cigar

Some unattractive spots. They were not there when I bought this several years ago. Should I crack and dip or?

 

As this example has been dipped before your best not to crack and dip it as the end result could be horrific.

Two to three of the four obverse spots look like they are well beyond being removed by dipping.

You'd be best off sending this to PCGS with your concerns as worse case scenario there's a buy back warranty.

Elbesaar, I guess you missed the "formally" in Larry Brigg's collection part, as I've owned this for 6-7 years. Quarter errors are the scarcest of all Barbers and in the last decade including your 1898 die cap there have only been 5 examples on the market all Philly's except this 07-S. Your 1898 is the only UNC error known and next to my AU58, there's a AU55 1900 and a F-15 1901. Also a 1902 or 1903 as I recall in a NCS holder that had more issues then the slab label could list. The PCGS 5% Off Center F-15 sold on EBay for $2899.00 about 1 1/2 years ago which shows you how tough these are compared to dimes.

Finally, something that actually represents your handle instead of them HTT's that aren't so BROAD

 

Hardtimes - can you believe this guy ? He's been taunting me with that Half

since I've known him. Some day B/S I'll get it from your clutches !!

Wow with friends like you guys who needs... Oh never mind!

I had about a dozen Barber dime errors, but once I found this one I sold all the others.

1901 PCGS MS64 Uncentered Broadstrike.

Ah, my old friend, Mme Broadstruck Barber... still love it.

 

Looks like all that collection direction changing has affected your memory a bit as you used to own the 97-S Broadstrike, not the 98-O

Here's 1 of the 2 Plate Coins in David Lawrence Barber Quarter 2ND Edition Book Error Section.

It's the only non Philly, Branch Mint Barber Quarter Error Known formally belonging to Larry Briggs.

A San Francisco minted 1907 now PCGS AU58 5% Off Center, formally in a SEGS MS63 15% Off Center holder.

Uncentered Broadstrike 1898-O

Elbesaar, Is that the AU58 1884?

1917-D FH Type One Uncentered Broadstrike Mint Error.

Thanks, Broadstruck - I thought you'd like it...

Well ya know I'd like a full, but since a 26-s is a wallet cruncher that example is a whole lotta head for non fh fundage!