Description
BL-40A2, Courteau 20BT, Wood 23
4.23 g
Graded by NGC as Genuine. It was removed from the holder.
Ex. Partrick (HA, Auction 61206, Lot 98284). Ex. Baker (Bowers & Merena March 1987, Part of the Lot #1052).
The lot #1052 from the Baker sale of Blacksmith tokens in 1987 was to show the progression of the different die states of the Wood 23 (BL-40). It was from several famous collections such as Langstroth, McKay-Clements, Courteau, Mabbot, Fargeon and others. Overall there was 12 pieces in the lot.
It was mentioned that the lot was constituted of superior pieces showing great details. Here is what they say about it : “While some of the latest and scarcest issues are Very Good to Fine, more common issues are nearly as struck.” This one by not being a particularly scarce one or a late issue is nearly as struck, and it is obvious.
Oppenheim, the cataloguer of the 1987 sale, mentioned that “He (Baker) is still doing work on this token and hopes to publish his findings eventually.”
That time came in the sale of Everingham Wood 23 series at Torex during Fall of 1989 by Jeffrey Hoare Auctions, sale No. 13.
This particular token would be the Fourth Issue according to their work.
Includes the original papers from Partrick.
______________________________