UK - Erskine, Friend of Freedom

Thomas Erskine - A Friend To Freedom & Rights of Man. A Middlesex issue in the 'Political & Social' series of halfpennies. He frequently worked with barrister Thomas Gibbs to represent those accused to treason in the struggle to reform parliament. See the token featuring them both here in the Museum. Sharp gives the die-sinker as Wyon, so without doubt Kempson was the manufacturer.
Thomas Paine’s “ Rights of Man” was published in 1791. At his trial he was defended by Thomas Erskine. A verdict of Guilty was returned, but Paine had left England, having been elected the Deputy for Calais, in the French Convention so the Government could not execute its sentence upon him, which would doubtless have been death.