James Conder (1761–1823) was an English businessman and

numismatist A numismatist is a specialist in numismatics ("of coins"; from Late Latin ''numismatis'', genitive of ''numisma''). Numismatists include collectors, specialist dealers, and scholars who use coins and other currency in object-based research. Altho ...

. He is known for giving his name to

Conder Tokens Conder tokens, also known as 18th-century provincial tokens, were a form of privately minted token coinage struck and used during the latter part of the 18th century and the early part of the 19th century in England, Anglesey and Wales, Scotlan ...

and because of the coincidence of an ancient hoard of coins being found ten feet under his doorstep when his house was demolished.

Biography

Early life

James Conder was the seventh and youngest son of a

dissenting Dissent is an opinion, philosophy or sentiment of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or policy enforced under the authority of a government, political party or other entity or individual. A dissenting person may be referred to as ...

pastor,

John Conder John Conder D.D. (3 June 1714 – 30 May 1781) was an Independent minister at Cambridge who later became President of the Independent College, Homerton in the parish of Hackney (parish), Hackney near London. John Conder was the theological tutor ...

and his wife. He was born at

Mile End Mile End is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London, England, east-northeast of Charing Cross. Situated on the London-to-Colchester road, it was one of the earliest suburbs of London. It became part of the m ...

in London and was educated at

Ware Ware may refer to: People * Ware (surname) * William of Ware (), English Franciscan theologian Places Canada * Fort Ware, British Columbia United Kingdom * Ware, Devon *Ware, Hertfordshire * Ware, Kent United States * Ware, Elmore County ...

in Hertfordshire and later by a Mr French, a Unitarian minister.J.F., 'Obituary. Mr. James Conder', in Sylvanus Urban (ed.), ''Gentleman's Magazine'' XCIII (New Series XVI) Part 1, January–June 1823
pp. 648-50
Retrieved 22 August 2010 Conder Token Obverse 800

Businessman and numismatist

Conder ran a

drapery Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles (Old French , from Late Latin ). It may refer to cloth used for decorative purposes – such as around windows – or to the trade of retailing cloth, originally mostly for clothin ...

business in

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...

. He was one of the first people to catalogue the 18th-century independently minted copper trade coinage that now often bears his name as a category of

token coin In numismatics, token coins or trade tokens are coin-like objects used instead of coins. The field of token coins is part of exonumia and token coins are token money. Their denomination is shown or implied by size, color or shape. They are o ...

s known as

. He published the first catalogue that would remain the definitive source concerning these coins for almost 100 years. The catalogue was titled, ''An arrangement of Provincial Coins, tokens, and medalets issued in Great Britain, Ireland, and the colonies, within the last twenty years, from the

farthing Farthing or farthings may refer to: Coinage *Farthing (British coin), an old British coin valued one quarter of a penny ** Half farthing (British coin) ** Third farthing (British coin) ** Quarter farthing (British coin) * Farthing (English ...

to the penny size'' and it was published in 1798. Conder did not simply study the Tokens; he also issued his own tokens to advertise his own drapery business. At the time the British Government did not issue low value coins as they had not been required. However the changes in the way the population worked was changing and there was a large demand throughout the country for low value coins. Many businesses were encouraged to create their own coins. The token illustrated was a provincial token issued by Conder's own business. The token carries the message ''Payable at Conder's Drapery Warehouse Ipswich'' and on the other side ''Ipswich Cross''. That side shows Ipswich Cross and is dated 1794.Conder Token
1798, image of coin. Retrieved August 2010

Church historian

Conder was also known for his knowledge of the history of dissenting churches and meeting houses and had contemplated writing on that subject. As it was he was a major contributor to a work by a Mr Wilson on the history and antiquities of churches in the London area.

Conder family genealogist

James is also credited with completing a book on genealogy called ''The Conder Family'' which had been started by his father, John Conder. James completed the work, added details of his own father's life, and had it published in his father's name.List of James Conders works
Worldcat.org

Death

Conder died after an internal abscess ruptured and caused him twelve hours of severe pain. He was buried in the meeting house in Tacket Street in Ipswich.

Ipswich Hoard

Forty years after his death, his house at the corner of Old Buttermarket and White Hart Lane was demolished, and a hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins was discovered buried ten feet beneath the doorstep.Coins offer up clues to the past
, East Anglia Daily Times, 15 July 2010

Conder family

The Conder family, stemming from his father, John Conder, has produced many prominent individuals. Conder's nephew was Josiah Conder, a leading author, editor and abolitionist.

Bibliography

*Conder, James. ''An arrangement of Provincial Coins, tokens, and medalets issued in Great Britain, Ireland, and the colonies, within the last twenty years, from the farthing to the penny size.'' Ipswich: G. Jermyn, 1798.

References

External links

The Copper Corner "A history of 18th Century Tokens"
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Conder, James 1763 births 1823 deaths English numismatists Coins of England People from Mile End English male non-fiction writers