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Auction: 17007 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 199

George III (1760-1820), Crown, 1819 lix, laureate bust right, thomas orford / february 7th 1835 in field, rev. St George and Dragon (S.3787), neatly engraved in obverse field, otherwise, toned, about very fine

No single individual has yet been identified as the Thomas Orford recorded on this Crown, although evidently it was a man of some connections for the gifter to have been able to afford the defacement of a 5 Shilling piece for the sake of a memento. It is also not clear whether the date relates to an anniversary, birthday, christening or a date of death as none of the potential options accord with this particular date in ancestral records. It is however known that brothers Richard and Thomas Orford Esqrs, of Disley, Derbyshire were active at this time, being noted for their extreme benevolence to the local parish church in supporting its enlargement at a cost of at least £3,000 as well as assisting the neighbourhood poor. Whilst entirely speculative, conceivably such local charity may have inspired private gifts of thanks such as this in return. Other Thomas Orfords are also known from Maidstone, Kent where one operated as a Surveyor for the Commissioners of Pavements in the 1830s, whilst another operated as a merchant in Liverpool, who dissolved a contractual agreement in May 1835. Further research required.

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Sold for
£60