Scotland, Ayrshire 1799 pattern silver Token Set PF61-PF65

Scotland, Ayrshire, Set of silver Pattern Token coins, Halfcrown, Eighteenpence, Shilling, Sixpence, dated 1799, restrikes by Matthew Young struck circa 1828 after design of John Milton for Colonel William Fullarton (1754-1808), cuirassed bust of Prince of Wales (later King George IV) left, italic Milton below bust of Halfcrown, italic Milton F below bust of Eighteenpence, M on truncation of Shilling, italic M below bust of Sixpence, abbreviated legend and outer toothed border surrounding, GEORGIVS. P. S. S. C. D. 1799., rev. crowned cruciform shields, St George on garter star at centre, with incuse garter legend HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE, the Sixpence with French and Hanoverian Arms of transposed arrangement in comparison to the larger denominations, abbreviated legend and outer toothed border surrounding, BR. L. PR. E. REG. SC. PR. ET. SEN COR. DUX on Halfcrown, Eighteenpence and Sixpence, Shilling reads REGNI SCOTIÆ SENES CALLVS, edges plain, weights 16.70g, 9.48g, 8.16g, 3.52g respectively (Davis 1, 5, 13, 14; DH 5). The Halfcrown and Eighteenpence with die cud below bust typical of the restrikes by Young, the Shilling struck from a rusted obverse die with raised rust spots, Halfcrown weakly struck at centre, all toned, have been slabbed and graded by NGC as PF61, PF64, PF65, PF65+ respective to size, a rare set of four.

NGC certification 5880675-005, 006, 007, 008 respectively.

The abbreviated legends translate as on obverse "George - Prince, High Steward of Scotland, Duke of Cornwall" and on the reverse as "DukeofBrunswick-Lüneburg; andPrinceandGreat Steward ofScotland, DukeofCornwall."

Colonel William Fullerton the only son of William Fullarton of Ayrshire attended Edinburgh University then toured Europe and was destined for diplomatic service, when he inherited his English estates, so returned to take up a seat in the House of Commons at first for the old borough of Plympton Earle in Devon (a borough abolished 1812), where he was a member until 1803. However by late 1780 he had raised a regiment of men from his estates of which he was gazetted lieutenant-colonel-commandant of as the 98^th Regiment on 29^th May 1780. Fullarton travelled with his regiment to India to successfully participate in the second Anglo-Mysore War through 1783.

He returned to country life and to marry Marianne Mackay and concentrate on Agricultural pursuits. A low profile parliamentary career continued sitting for Haddington Burghs, Scotland 1787-90, Horsham, Sussex 1793-96 and Ayrshire 1796-1803, the latter period in which these pattern tokens were engraved and produced in very limited numbers for the following reason.

It so happened that Sir Joseph Banks had seen the dies in the early stages of production and advised the engraver Milton that the resemblance to current coinage was far too close for comfort and could be seen as a treasonable offence. The coinage was intended to be a token issue in the Ayrshire area of Scotland and had been sanctioned at least by the Price of Wales. Subsequently though, only a limited number of examples were struck off for presentation purposes only, and the dies later found their way to the coin dealer in London Matthew Young who produced the restrike pieces as seen herewith circa 1828 onwards.

Colonel Fullarton was later appointed first commissioner for the government of the island of Trinidad. The commission included Royal Navy Captain Samuel Hood and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Picton who had ruled the island since its capture by Sir Ralph Abercromby in 1797. Picton soon resigned though when William Fullarton asked him for an account of all criminal proceedings on the island since 1797, however Fullarton pressed onward with Picton and subsequently brought him to trial for the torture of a Spanish girl Luisa Calderon to gain a confession from her. The trial caused a public sensation resulting in a verdict of guilty in February 1806. Fullarton was subsequently attacked in the media, and Picton successfully applied for a new trial at which he was acquitted. However, Fullarton had by then died of an inflammation of the lungs whilst staying at Gordons Hotel, London on 13^th February 1808 and is buried in Isleworth.

Provenance:

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, April 2012, item SCO 920.