England, Northumberland, issued by J. Robertson of Newcastle-on-Tyne to be current in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, 1811 AD.,
Silver Shilling (25 mm / 4,30 g),
Obv.: NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM 12 D TOKEN / 1811 , Arms (three castles), crest and supporters of Newcastle.
Rev.: PAYABLE BY JOHN ROBERTSON / NEWCASTLE ON TYNE , Commerce, a female personification of Trade, with staff and cornucopia, seated on bales of merchandise, a pair of scales on the ground, a ship in the distance.
Davis 6 ; Dalton - Northumberland 11 .
John Robertson was a silversmith in Dean Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne and issued these tokens. However, they were not well received for in November 1811 a 'Caution' appeared in the 'Times' stating that no less than 118 shopkeepers and local businesses would not accept his, or any other issuers', silver shilling and sixpenny tokens. In May 1812 in response to a similar caution in the 'Tyne Mercury' he proclaimed that he was responsible for his tokens and that that should be held, in much the same light, as 'promissory notes payable on demand' and furthermore in response to the 'gross misrepresentation' that his tokens only contained 8d. to 8.5d. in the shilling, he stated that they did actually contain 10d. to 10.5d. !
However, the damage was done and Robertson's foray into producing an accepted token coinage failed and he was declared bankrupt in February 1821.
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