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England - 1794

Bladud, Founder of Bath

Obverse:

Male bust with a bushy beard and wearing an Eastern crown; a bow and quiver of arrows slung across his shoulders.

Legend:

SUCCESS TO THE BATH WATERS BLADUD FOUNDER OF BATH The two halves of the legend are separated by an acorn on the left and an oak leaf on the right.)

Edge:

PAYABLE BY F. HEATH BATH - - - - - - - - -

Reverse:

An eighteenth century tea-urn, surmounted by a hexagonal star.

Legend:

IRONMONGERY BRAZIERY & CUTLERY. with F. HEATH, 1794 in the exergue.

Vern's Comments:

Diesinker, Wyon; manufacturer, Lutwyche. Five cwts. struck. Common.

Comments. Heath was an ironmonger, brazier and cutler in Bath, and this was the first of several tokens issued by him.

An eastern crown was granted to British subjects who distinguished themselves in the East. It was a circlet of gold with, eight rays, of which only five are usually seen in an engraving of it. It is difficult to see why an Ancient British chieftain should be depicted in this manner unless the intention was to show him as something strange and barbaric.

Bladud was the eldest son of Lud Hudibras, king of Britain. Educated at Athens, he returned home a leper, and was placed under restraint to prevent the spread of infection. He escaped from his father's court in disguise, and eventually reached Swanswick, three miles from Bath, where he became a swineherd. One day he noticed that after the pigs wallowed in the mire of the valley their skins became free of all sores. This led him to discover a spring of water that cured him of his leprosy; he returned to his father's court and later succeeded him. He then returned to the healing water, cleansed the spring, erected baths, and built a splendid town to commemorate his cure.

The tea-urn shown on the reverse formed an indispensable adjunct to the polite tea-table of the period. They were made in silver, silver plate, or copper according to the affluence of the family.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 150-151

England — Somersetshire

D & H 39 — Bath

Bell Pg: 150-151

O: Bust to left, with bow and quiver. BLADUD FOUNDER OF BATH. SUCCESS TO THE BATH WATERS.

A. 31

R: A tea urn, IRONMONGERY BRAZIERY & CUTLERY. Ex: F. HEATH. 1794.

E: PAYABLE BY F. HEATH BATH - - - - - - - - -