Stock No. 7177	Anti Corn Law League bronze medal
Very emotively designed bronze medal to rally support for the Anti Corn Law League. Struck in circa 1840. Designed by J. Allen and J. Taylor in high relief. Obverse: A man standing on a rocky shore, brandishing a twisted sword and holding a scroll inscribed CORN LAWS is preventing a destitute family from reaching a moored boat laden with sacks. Legend above CORN MONOPOLY: A NATION'S CURSE. In exergue: THOU HAST WITHHOLDEN/ BREAD FROM THE/HUNGRY./ JOB.22.c.7.v. On right hand side by rim: ALLEN FEC:. Reverse: Men, women and children gathered on the shore while goods are being unloaded from a boat. More goods being brought ashore by boat from ships beyond. In exergue: FREE TRADE THE/PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. Beneath, by rim signed J. TAYLOR. Maker :- J. Allen/J. Taylor

Condition :-Extremely Fine even though both sides are in high relief
Circa :- 1840
Size :- 54mm
The Anti Corn Law League was founded in Manchester on September 18, 1838. The League was an amalgamation of a number of metropolitan and provincial associations who had been striving to secure the repeal of the Corn Laws. These laws had been in existence in varying forms since 1773. The landowners gained because the price of home-grown corn was kept at an artificially high level by the imposition of an exhorbitant import duty but the new industrial working classes suffered great hardship. The Corn Laws were repealed in 1846 and prices steadied somewhat but the benefit to the poorer classes was not as great as had been hoped. See British Historical Medals 1837-1901, by Laurence Brown, No. 1972, p.49.

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