Pitt Token Öffentlichkeit Deposited
The popular name for a copper token probably issued to commemo- rate the efforts of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, to secure the repeal of the Stamp Act. It has on the obverse the bust of Pitt and the words: the RESTORER OF COMMERCE, and on the reverse a ship and the inscrip- tion : THANKS TO THE FRIENDS OF LIBERTY AND TRADE.
Atkins (p. 264) says: "The history of this piece is better known than most Ameri- can tokens. The Stamp Act was passed March 22, 1765, and repealed, principally by the agency of Mr. Pitt, March 18, 1766. This coin, or rather medalet. was struck to commemorate this event by Mr. Smithers, of Philadelphia, from the designs of Colonel Revere of Boston. Although doubtless originally intended for this purpose only, it soon became, in consequence of the dearth of small change, converted into currency."
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)