Middlesex-Spence’s D&H-1089 variety.

The familiar AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER obverse here coupled with a reverse bearing the legend MAN OVER MAN HE MADE NOT LORD surrounding a depiction of Adam and Eve – important symbolism based on the story of the rebels John Ball, Wat Tyler, and Jack Straw in the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381.

One of the sayings that the rebels used to stir up the peasants was "when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman", In other words, way back in the Garden of Eden, there was no nobility, so having a king was inconsistent with Christianity.  The rebels probably didn’t want peasants to think they were going to hell if they revolted against the king.

It didn’t work then, but this saying is part of the foundation of western ideas of equality that Thomas Paine wrote about at the time the token was minted.

Pretty cool and interesting stuff if you ask us.

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