By DB Sikes
Card Subject Overview
Roger Williams (1603–1683), the English theologian and advocate for religious freedom, played a foundational role in the establishment of Rhode Island. Banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his radical insistence on liberty of conscience, he founded Providence Plantations in 1636 and built lasting alliances with the Narragansett people. His legacy as a champion of separation of church and state made him one of the most progressive voices of early colonial America.
Williams’ card in the T68 Heroes of History set captures his historical significance. Shown with a parchment labeled “Treaty with Narragansett” and colonial figures in the background, the image underscores his role as peacemaker, mediator, and architect of religious tolerance.
“Forced worship stinks in God’s nostrils.”
– Roger Williams
Card Checklist
✅ Core backs and variations currently assembled:
- Royal Bengals (Factory 2)
- Royal Bengals (Factory 17)
- Miners Extra (Regular)
- Miners Extra (Short Cut)
- Pan Handle Scrap (single example, upgrade needed to secure full set of Deep Navy, Steel, and Light Powder Blue shades)
- Pan Handle Scrap Silver Back (second toughest back, after Natural Leaf Scrap)
- Natural Leaf Scrap
While none of these are yet graded, this Roger Williams run already spans the key brand types. The Natural Leaf Scrap and Pan Handle Silver Back stand out as the rarest and most difficult backs, while the Pan Handle Scrap blues offer future depth for collectors aiming to capture the complete spectrum.
Rarity Tier & Difficulty Level
Roger Williams is classified as Tier 3 – Supporting Cast / Regional Hero in the T68 set. His significance as the founder of Rhode Island and advocate for liberty makes him a meaningful subject, but collector demand does not match that of the marquee Revolutionary or Civil War figures.
The Pan Handle Scrap Blues add layered difficulty for those who want to complete a full shade run.
Natural Leaf Scrap is the toughest Williams back to obtain, rarely surfacing in any condition.
Pan Handle Scrap Silver Back is a close second in scarcity, often considered the most challenging Pan Handle variant across the set.
Acquisition Journey
The Roger Williams run began with the more accessible Royal Bengals Factory 2 and 17 examples, each offering subtle tonal distinctions. The Miners Extra (Regular & Short Cut) provided another essential brand, while the Pan Handle Scrap secured Factory No. 10 representation.
The Pan Handle Silver Back added a major rarity to the group, standing second only to the Natural Leaf Scrap in terms of difficulty. Acquiring both the Silver Back and Natural Leaf Scrap solidified the run as a serious cornerstone within the collection, leaving only the Pan Handle shade refinements for future pursuit.
Future goals include upgrading the Pan Handle Scrap to a full trio of blue shades — Deep Navy, Steel, and Light Powder Blue — to complete the Williams “shade spectrum.”
Printing & Distribution Notes
Roger Williams’ card illustrates how diverse back types spread across different factories and brands:
- Royal Bengals: Factory 2 vs. Factory 17 examples display subtle lithographic warmth and cooler tones.
- Miners Extra: A dependable back, broadly distributed but not as scarce as others.
- Pan Handle Scrap: Known for bold Factory No. 10 printing, with confirmed multiple blue shades and the extremely tough Silver Back.
- Natural Leaf Scrap: Among the rarest issues in the set, likely produced in very limited runs.
Together, these backs reflect the layered distribution and brand strategy of the American Tobacco Company.
Research Notes
Williams’ presence in the set underscores ALC’s commitment to portraying political, theological, and colonial figures alongside military and scientific icons. The survival of his card across Royal Bengals, Miners Extra, Pan Handle Scrap, Pan Handle Silver, and Natural Leaf Scrap highlights the breadth of his distribution, as well as the rarity challenges unique to his subject.
The presence of multiple Pan Handle shades for his card makes him a useful case study for ink variance and distribution across Factory No. 10 print runs.
Personal Reflection
Completing the Roger Williams run has been particularly rewarding, anchored by the Natural Leaf Scrap and the Pan Handle Silver Back — two of the toughest and most desirable backs for this subject. The additional challenge of someday finishing the Pan Handle Scrap blues adds future depth to the chase.
Williams’ run encapsulates what makes T68 collecting so compelling: history, scarcity, and subtle factory variations all converging on one figure.
Category Tags
- Subject Name: Roger Williams (“Founder of Rhode Island”)
- Variation Type: Pan Handle Scrap (Blue shades & Silver Back), Natural Leaf Scrap, Miners Extra (Regular & Short Cut), Royal Bengals (Factory 2 & 17)
- Rarity Tier: Tier 4- True Commons
- Year: 1910–1911
- T68 Series: Series Two
- Full Back-Type Completed: Complete (Pan Handle Scrap shade upgrades planned)
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