Baron Spolasco (ca. 1800-ca.1858) was a notorious quack. While practicing medicine in Ireland, he was also known as John Williams and John Smith. He was a passenger in a shipwreck in 1838, about which he advertised his heroism. He subsequently practiced in Wales, London, and beginning in about 1850 in New York. He was satirized by Walt Whitman.
- Token
Brass. England 1838. Unsigned. Lifetime. Trade token advertising his practice in Swansea.
- Size
22 mm
- Artist
Unknown.
- Obverse
Clothed bust three-quarters to left, with head facing, within a circle; in a curve above, THE BARON SPOLASCO M.D.&C.; and below, THE REAL FRIEND / OF THE AFFLICTED in two lines; the whole within a beaded circle.
- Reverse
In a field, THIS / EMINENT / PHYSICIAN'S / 5.000. RECENT / ASTOUNDING CURES / AND HIS NARRATIVE / OF THE KILLARNEY / IMMORTALIZE / HIS NAME in nine parallel lines; above, in a curve, JANʸ 22ᴰ 1838 [both 'Y' and 'D' underlined] and below the ornamental line, SWANSEA Sth WALES in a curve; the whole within a beaded circle.
- Ref
Freeman 873; Storer 3411