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Auction: 24123 - British and World Coins and Medals featuring the Pritchard Collection of 18th Century Provincial Tokens and Commemorative Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 896

WARWICKSHIRE, Birmingham, Isaac Perrins, Prize Fighting Penny/Medalet, 1789, draped bust right, rev, three line inscription, plain edge, 12h, 19.11g (D&H 13), a handful of light bagmarks, otherwise toned to light brown surfaces, extremely fine; Thomas Johnson, Prize Fighting Penny/Medalet, 1790, bust left, rev. three line inscription, plain edge, 12h, 18.80g (D&H 12), a handful of light contact marks, otherwise with pleasing mint red to the edges of devices under light brown surfaces, extremely fine (2)

The Pritchard Collection of 18th Century Provincial Tokens and Commemorative Medals



In October of 1789 Thomas Johnson and Isaac Perrins, both notorious bare-knuckle fighters, fought for the English Championship. The competition was advertised as a battle between Birmingham and London; Johnson heralded from Derby and Perrins from the capital. In fact, Perrins fighting style had earned him the nickname the 'Knock-kneed hammerman from Soho'. The fight lasted an exhausting 75 minutes and comprised of 65 rounds. Perrins, standing at 6"2' and weighing 238lbs, compared to Johnson's 5"8' stature and a lesser weight of 196lbs, had led him to be the favourite going into the fight. However, to everyone's surprise and to the great dismay of those who had placed bets on Perrins to win, it was Johnson who came out notorious.

Bare-knuckle fighting's popularity during the eighteenth century led to Johnson becoming somewhat of a national celebrity. However, his financial success eventually led to his own demise. Johnson was a notorious gambler and after his retirement from the sport in 1791 he purchased a public house, the Grapes, located in Lincoln's Inn Fields. This soon became a hub for gambling and criminal behaviour, and sadly by 1797 Johnson had died a virtual pauper.


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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£70