The Traders’ Tokens of this kingdom, properly so-called, are confined,
in issue, to the seventeenth, eighteenth, and early part of the
nineteenth centuries--those of the first of these periods being the
most numerous as well as, in most respects, the most interesting.
Though not coins in the ordinary sense, not having been issued by
kings or governments, they play a more important part in the history
of the country than even the regal pieces do, and the information to
be derived from their study is not only valuable but in many instances
entertaining.
Coins, the currency of nations, as I have, on another occasion,
observed, are hoarded up and studied, and constantly referred to in
illustration of historical facts, or as corroborations in cases of
doubtful points; and their value, admitted on all hands, cannot be too
highly estimated. They, however, tell but of princes and nationalities,
not of the people. The coins of Greece and Rome tell of events, of
changes, and of wars, and become, when properly studied, a complete
epitome of the history of the great nations to which they belong.
Those of our own country, however, have not that recommendation--they
become simply, and solely, matters of regal chronology. From the Norman
Conquest to the present hour not one event does an English coin record,
not one national trait does it exhibit, and not one matter connected
with national history or the people does it illustrate.
Not so with Traders’ Tokens. Issued _by_ the people, they tell _of_ the
people, and become imperishable records of that most important estate
of the realm. They indicate to us their occupations and their skill;
their customs and their modes of life; their local governments; their
guilds and trade companies; their habits and sentiments; their trades,
their costume, their towns, their families, and their homes. Pity it
is that these lasting and reliable records and adjuncts to national
history are, as I have just said, confined to some two centuries of
our historical annals--but of those two periods (and especially of the
earliest) they are, assuredly, among the more interesting and important
of illustrations.
In Anglo-Saxon and mediæval times the want of small coins--that is, a
currency representing a small value--was much felt, and this gave rise
to the occasional issue of spurious, or rather base, coins to supply
the deficiency, as it was found the smaller pieces--for instance, the
pennies when broken up for use as halfpence and farthings--were unfit
for general use among the rough-handed population.
In the reigns of Edward VI. and Mary the issue of a base-metal
currency gave rise to considerable dissatisfaction and fraud, and
under Elizabeth, who issued three-halfpence and three-farthing pieces,
that spurious currency was declared no longer current. Despite the
issuing, however, of these three-halfpenny and three-farthing pieces,
the want of halfpennies and farthings was still so seriously felt by
the entire population, that housekeepers, chandlers, grocers, mercers,
vintners, and most other traders were impelled, for conscience’ sake,
to the issue of private tokens of lead, pewter, latten, tin, and even
leather, for the purposes of trade. These were issued by the traders,
and commodities in exchange could only be had from their issuers; they
were thus useless as a circulating medium and a source of frequent loss
to their holders.
In 1574 a proposition was made to the Queen by two persons named
Wickliffe and Humphrey, to coin halfpence and farthings in base silver
(to weigh respectively 12 and 6 grains), but was not acted upon.
It was then proposed to coin pledges of copper, and a proclamation
forbidding the use of private tokens and authorizing those just named
was prepared; this, however, again, was not acted upon, and private
tokens still continued in use. In 1582 the three-farthing pieces were
withdrawn and silver halfpennies issued. They bear on the obverse a
portcullis and mint mark, and on the reverse a cross and pellets.
In 1601 and 1602 the requirements of the army in Ireland caused, for
a time, the issue of copper pence, halfpence, and farthings, and this
seems to have revived the idea of copper pledges for England, for
which, indeed, pattern pieces were struck. Copper tokens were, at that
time, issued by the cities of Oxford, Worcester, and Bristol.
On the accession of James I. that monarch issued silver pennies for
this country, in which his Scottish baubees, bodles, and placks were
useless. A pattern farthing was also prepared but not issued. Soon
afterwards a fresh scheme, which met the approval of the king, was
acted upon. This was the issue of Royal farthing tokens weighing only
six grains each. The licence to mint these dishonest coins which, for
the purpose of getting them into circulation, were sold by the Crown
to all comers at 21 shillings’ worth for a pound, was granted to Lord
Harrington--the king stipulating that he should receive one-half
the profit every quarter of a year. His majesty, however, ere long
altered the arrangement, allowing Lord Harrington a fixed sum, and
himself taking all the rest of the profit. Their principal distributor
was Gerard Malyns, who thus spoke of their intention and use:--“The
necessitye of these small moneys did appeare here with us in England,
where everie chandler, tapster, vintner, and others, made tokens of
lead and brasse for half-pences, and at Bristol by the late Queenes
authoritie were made of copper, with a ship on one side, and C.B. on
the other side, signifying CIVITAS BRISTOLL: these went current, for
small things, at Bristoll and ten miles about. Hereupon, it pleased
our soveraigne lord the king to approve of the making of a competent
quantitie of farthing tokens to abolish the said leaden tokens, made
in derogation of the king’s prerogative royall, which farthing tokens,
being in the yeare 1613, with certain cautions and limitations, made
of meere copper, have on the one side two sceptres crossing under one
diadem, in remembrance of the union betweene England and Scotland; and
on the other side the harpe for Ireland, and the inscription, ‘IACOBVS
D.G. MAGNÆ. BRITT. FRA. ET HIBER. REX.’ And the said farthing tokens
have not oneley beene found very commodius and necessarie for pettie
commutations, but also to be a great reliefe of the poore, and meanes
to encrease charitie, without which many of them had perished, everie
man having meanes to give almes, even the mechanicall poore to the
indigent poore.”
The mode adopted for distributing these farthing tokens and getting
them into circulation was crafty and business-like. They were made up
in packets of 5_s._ 3_d._ worth in each, and these packets, made up
in bags of £20 worth in each, were sent to the mayors of the different
towns of the kingdom, who were required to sell them to the public. For
all sold and remitted for within two months the mayor was allowed two
shillings in the pound for his trouble; if over two months, then only
one shilling; and the purchaser of course in any case got 21_s._ worth
for 20_s._ Thus each 21_s._ worth was sold by the king for 18_s._
Despite all this, however, and the issuing of proclamation after
proclamation to enforce this Royal swindle, private tokens continued
to be issued as much as ever and could not be put down. The office for
the issue of the Royal tokens was in Lothbury, London, and the place is
still known as “Token-House Yard.” After the annulling of this office,
copper farthing tokens of a more honest value were issued, but traders
still struck their own to such an extent that they became more than
ever general throughout the country.
In 1649 an attempt was made to establish a national farthing, and
pattern pieces were prepared. Nothing, however, was done until 1671,
when Traders’ Tokens having increased to a prodigious extent, and being
issued by one or other in almost every town and village in the kingdom,
the government announced the intended issue of halfpence and farthings
to supersede them; and in 1672 a proclamation prohibiting the making or
use of any such private tokens was issued, and stringent measures taken
for their suppression. From that time their use rapidly declined, and
they were soon utterly put down.
From that time (1672) until 1787 no Traders’ Tokens whatever were
struck or issued in this kingdom. In the latter year (1787) the
government having for a long time neglected to issue a sufficient
quantity of copper coins for the purposes of trade, and the copper
coinage having been forged to so great an extent that not one-fourth
of what was in circulation was of Royal mint coining, the Anglesey
Copper Mines Company issued tokens of their own, and to such an extent
that they put into circulation three hundred tons of copper pennies
and halfpennies. The example thus set was followed by other companies,
corporations, and private traders, and tokens soon became so general
that the matter attracted the attention of government, and resulted in
orders being issued for the preparation of a new national coinage.
To that end in June, 1797, George the Third issued his warrant
empowering Matthew Boulton, of the Soho Works, Birmingham, to
manufacture a considerable quantity of penny and twopenny pieces. The
extent to which this contract was carried may be gathered from the
fact that between June, 1797, and 1805, Matthew Boulton “coined under
contract for the British Government upwards of 4,000 tons weight of
copper coin, amounting at its nominal value to nearly £800,000.” These
coins were strictly and unequivocally _honest_, as were also those of
the Anglesey and other works.
The Soho twopenny pieces weighed exactly two ounces each, and eight of
them laid side by side measured one foot; the pennies weighed one ounce
each, and seventeen in like manner measured two feet; the halfpennies
weighed half an ounce each, and twelve of them measured one foot.
The effect of this issue was the stoppage of private tokens, only
one or two examples being known of so late a date as 1802, when they
finally ceased.
By 1811, consequent on the great increase in the value of copper caused
by the costly wars in which this country was engaged, the twopenny and
penny pieces (which were of the intrinsic value of the metal) were
melted down, or used in various ways, and thus the copper currency had
again, gradually and surely, become deficient. In that year the Copper
Companies and others again resorted to the issue of batches of tokens,
and these continued to increase and to be issued in large numbers until
1817, when, by Act of Parliament passed on the 27th of July, their
manufacture was prohibited, and their issuers ordered, under penalties
for disobedience, to take up all they had issued before the 1st of
January, 1818.
Thus came entirely to an end the issue of Traders’ Tokens in this
country.
It is impossible to ascertain, or even to form a correct estimate of,
the number of varieties of seventeenth century tokens that were issued.
Boyne, after mature consideration and much research, estimated the
entire issue as not having exceeded 20,000, and in that he was probably
tolerably correct.
In round numbers the _known_ examples of tokens of the seventeenth
century, issued in the various counties of England, Wales, and Ireland,
may be put down as in:--
Bedfordshire about 80
Berkshire " 150
Buckinghamshire " 140
Cambridgeshire " 150
Cheshire " 70
Cornwall " 50
Cumberland " 10
Derbyshire " 110
Devonshire " 250
Dorsetshire " 160
Durham " 60
Essex " 250
Gloucestershire " 180
Hampshire " 150
Herefordshire " 50
Hertfordshire " 170
Huntingdonshire " 70
Kent " 500
Lancashire " 100
Leicestershire " 100
Lincolnshire " 200
Middlesex, including London " 3,200
Monmouthshire " 20
Norfolk " 300
Northamptonshire " 150
Nottinghamshire " 90
Northumberland " 20
Oxfordshire " 230
Rutlandshire " 20
Shropshire " 100
Somersetshire " 280
Staffordshire " 100
Suffolk " 300
Surrey, including Southwark " 650
Sussex " 200
Warwickshire " 160
Westmoreland " 25
Wiltshire " 200
Worcestershire " 120
Yorkshire " 450
Uncertain English " 100
Wales " 100
Isle of Man " 1
Ireland " 700
Scotland, none known.
Making a grand total in all of about twelve thousand distinct
varieties; and these, of course, can be only about one-half of what
were actually issued.
The denominations are Pennies, Half-pennies, and Farthings, and they
are of copper, or, in not a few instances, brass.
Their shape is usually round, but some are square, others octagonal,
others lozenge, and others again heart-shaped. These varieties will be
best understood by reference to the following engravings, which may be
taken as general typical examples.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
They are usually thin, not very cleverly struck, and many of them
exhibit, in their orthography, ignorant and eccentric modes of spelling
names, both of persons, trades, and places. The greater bulk of them
are, fortunately, dated; the dates ranging from about 1648 to 1672.
The inscriptions in by far the greatest number of examples commence on
the obverse, and are continued on the reverse. They commonly consist
of the christian and surname of the issuer, his trade or occupation,
and the town or village in which he resided. Usually on the ordinary
disc-formed tokens this inscription is between the outer and inner
circle of dotted lines. On the field, within the inner circle, is
usually the value of the coin; the initials of the issuer and his wife
joined together with a knot; trade-company, town, or family-arms;
tavern or shop sign; device, indicating the handicraft or trade of
the issuer; initials or other lettering; or other matter. On some,
principally on the square, lozenge, octagonal, and heart-shaped
examples, the inscription is placed in several lines across the entire
field, and is accompanied more or less by devices, etc.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Among devices the arms of Trade-guilds or Companies are most numerous,
and a brief description of those most commonly met with will be found
of great service to the collector. They are as follows,--but for the
sake of brevity, and as they are but seldom indicated on the tokens
themselves, I omit tinctures:--
[Illustration]
APOTHECARIES.--Full length figure of Apollo, the inventor of physic,
his head radiant, holding in his left hand a bow, and in his right hand
an arrow, supplanting (_i.e._ standing over, astride, or vanquishing)
a serpent. On tokens these arms are sometimes represented without
being on a shield. The crest of the company, a Rhinoceros, is also
occasionally used.
ARMOURERS.--On a chevron a gauntlet between two pairs of swords in
saltire; on a chief an oval shield whereon a cross of St. George,
between two peers’ helmets.
BAKERS.--A pair of balances, held, between three garbs, by a hand,
vested, and arm embowed, issuing from radiated clouds, affixed to the
upper part of a chief barry wavy of four, whereon are two anchors.
BAKERS (WHITE).--Three garbs; on a chief an arm issuing from a cloud,
holding a pair of scales, between three garbs.
BARBER-SURGEONS.--On a cross of St. George between, in first and fourth
quarters a chevron between three fleams, and second and third a rose
crowned, a lion passant-guardant.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
BLACKSMITHS.--A chevron between three hammers crowned. On some tokens
a single hammer, crowned or uncrowned, without a shield is used;
occasionally also three uncrowned hammers; or, hammer and pincers, as
on the cut; or, again, an anvil, as on the next example. BOTTLE MAKERS
AND HORNERS (now only Horners).--On a chevron between three leather
bottles as many bugle horns, stringed.
BRAZIERS.--On a chevron between, in chief, two ewers (or beakers), and
in base, a tripod pot with two handles, three roses seeded and barbed.
BREWERS.--On a chevron, between three pairs of barley garbs in saltire,
as many tuns. Instead of these arms it was not infrequent for a single
barrel, or three barrels, to be used. Another not uncommon device was
two men carrying a barrel suspended from a shoulder-pole.
BRICKLAYERS AND TILERS.--A chevron between, in chief, a fleur-de-lis
between two brick-axes palewise, and in base a bundle of laths.
[Illustration]
BUTCHERS.--Two slaughter-axes addorsed in saltire between three
bulls’ heads couped, two in fesse and one in base; on a chief a
boar’s head couped between two block brushes (_i.e._ two bunches of
“butchers’-broom”). A knife and cleaver, and other signs were also used.
[Illustration]
CARPENTERS.--A chevron (sometimes engrailed) between three pairs of
compasses expanded at the points. CLOCKMAKERS.--Sable, a clock, or.
CLOTHWORKERS OR SHEARMEN.--A chevron ermine between, in chief, two
habbicks, and, in base, a teazle slipped.
COACH MAKERS AND COACH HARNESS MAKERS.--A chevron between three
coaches. Crest, Phœbus drawn in a chariot. Supporters, two horses,
armed. Sometimes this crest alone appears, and sometimes a horse
caparisoned.
COOKS.--A chevron engrailed between three columbines, stalked and
leaved. Or, a chevron between three columbines, pendant.
COOPERS.--Gyronny of eight, on a chevron, between three annulets, a
grose between two adzes; on a chief three lilies, slipped, stalked, and
leaved.
[Illustration]
CORDWAINERS OR SHOEMAKERS.--A chevron between three goats’ heads
erased and attired. It is not unusual for the three goats’ heads to be
used without shield or chevron, and sometimes a single goat’s head is
introduced. The public-house sign of the “Three Goats’ Heads,” a “house
of call” for shoemakers, took its origin from these arms.
[Illustration]
CUTLERS.--Three pairs of swords in saltire, two pairs in chief and one
in base. Frequently two swords in saltire is used as the trade device
on tokens. DISTILLERS.--A fesse wavy between, in chief, the sun in
his splendour encircled with a cloud distilling drops of rain, and, in
base, a distillatory [still] double armed, on a fire, with two worms
and bolt receivers. Other simpler devices used on tokens are the sun in
splendour; a still; or an Indian holding a bow and arrow (being one of
the supporters of the company’s arms).
DRAPERS.--Three triple crowns each issuing out of a cloud shedding rays
of the sun. Frequently only one triple crown is used on tokens.
[Illustration]
DYERS.--A chevron between three madder bags, corded.
FARRIERS.--Three horseshoes pierced. A single horseshoe was, however,
sometimes used on tokens.
[Illustration]
FELTMAKERS.--A dexter hand couped at the wrist between two hatbands,
nowed, in chief a hat, banded; or, a hat; or, a hand holding a hat and
feather, were adopted.
FISHMONGERS.--Three dolphins naiant, in pale, finned and ducally
crowned, between two pairs of lucies in saltire (the sinister
surmounting the dexter), over the nose of each lucy a ducal crown; on a
chief three pairs of keys, endorsed, in saltire. FLETCHERS.--A chevron
between three arrows, headed and feathered.
FOUNDERS.--A laver pot (or vase) between two prickets (or
taper-candlesticks).
FRAMEWORK KNITTERS.--On a chevron between, in chief, two combs and
as many leads of needles, and, in base, an iron jack springer, a
main-spring between two small springs.
FRUITERERS.--On a mount, a representation of the Tree of Life (Tree of
Paradise) environed with a serpent; on the dexter side thereof a male
figure, on the sinister a female (representing Adam and Eve); at the
bottom of the tree a rabbit.
GIRDLERS.--Party per fesse, _azure_ and _or_, a pale counterchanged,
the first charged with three gridirons, the handles in chief, of the
second.
GLAZIERS.--Two grozing irons in saltire between four closing nails; on
a chief a lion passant-guardant.
GLOVERS.--Party per fesse, counterchanged, on each part of the first,
two and one, a ram salient, armed, and unguled. The same arms,
quartering two goats, statant, affront[=e]e and attired, in fesse, were
granted to the Leathersellers’ Company as an impalement in 1505.
GOLDSMITHS.--Quarterly, first and fourth a leopard’s face, second and
third a covered cup; and in chief two buckles, their tongues fessewise,
pointed to the dexter.
GOLD AND SILVER WIRE DRAWERS.--On a chevron between, in chief, two
coppers, and, in base, two points in saltire, a drawing iron between
two rings.
[Illustration]
GROCERS.--A chevron between nine cloves, three, three and three.
Sometimes seven (three, three, and one) are used. Not unfrequently on
tokens three cloves are used as a grocer’s trade device, as are also
one, two, or three sugar-loaves.
[Illustration]
HABERDASHERS (Anciently called “Hurrers” and “Milleners).”--Barry
nebulée (or wavy) of six; on a bend, a lion passant-guardant.
HATTERS, OR HATTER MERCHANTS.--On a chevron between three felt hats
with strings, as many escallops. On some tokens a hat, or hat and
feather, or cap, alone occurs.
INNHOLDERS.--A chevron, quarterly per chevron, and per pale, between
three garbs. The crest of this company, a star of sixteen rays, was
also a common device on tokens.
[Illustration]
IRONMONGERS.--On a chevron between three steel gads (billets) as many
swivels, the middle one palewise, the other two with the line of the
chevron.
JOINERS OR CARPENTERS.--A chevron (sometimes engrailed) between three
pairs of compasses expanded at the points. Or, a chevron between two
pairs of compasses extended, in chief, and a sphere in base; on a chief
a pale between two roses, the pale charged with an escallop.
LEATHERSELLERS.--Three bucks passant reguardant attired and unguled.
LORINERS.--A chevron between three curbits and as many bosses.
MASONS.--On a chevron (sometimes engrailed) between three castles, a
pair of compasses, extended.
[Illustration]
MERCERS.--A demi-virgin, couped below the shoulders, vested, crowned
with an Eastern-crown, her hair dishevelled and wreathed about her
temples with roses, issuing from clouds, and all within an orle of the
same. This device is sometimes, on tokens, shorn of its clouds, and
used without shield.
MERCHANT ADVENTURERS.--Barry nebulée (or wavy) of six, on a chief
quarterly, first and fourth, a lion passant-guardant, second and third
two roses in fesse, barbed.
MERCHANT TAILORS (or “Taylors and Linen Armourers”). A royal tent
between two Parliament robes, lined ermine; the tent garnished, with
tentstaff and pennon; on a chief a lion passant-guardant.
MERCHANTS OF THE STAPLE.--Barry nebulée (or wavy) of six; on a chief, a
lion passant-guardant.
MUSICIANS.--A swan with wings expanded, within a double tressure
fleury-counter-fleury; a chief charged with on a pale between two lions
passant-guardant a rose seeded and barbed.
NEEDLE MAKERS.--From three crowns in fesse as many needles, pendant.
PAINTERS AND PAINTER-STAINERS.--Three escutcheons quarterly with three
phoenix’ heads, erased.
PARISH CLERKS.--A fleur-de-lis; on a chief a leopard’s head between two
song-books (shut), stringed.
PEWTERERS.--On a chevron between three limbecks, as many roses stalked,
leaved, and seeded. Or:--
PEWTERERS.--On a chevron between three single-handled cups, each
containing so many sprigs of lilies, the Virgin accompanied by four
cherubs, between two pairs of limbecks.
PIN MAKERS.--A demi-virgin couped at the waist, mantle turned
down ermine, her hair dishevelled, on her head an Eastern crown.
PLAISTERERS.--On a chevron engrailed between, in chief, two
plaisterers’ hammers, and, in base, a treble flat brush, handle upward,
a rose seeded and barbed between two fleurs-de-lis; in chief a trowel
fessewise with handle to the sinister.
PLUMBERS.--On a chevron between, in chief, two plummets and, in base, a
level reversed, two soldering irons in saltire between a cutting knife
on the dexter and a shave hook on the sinister; in chief a cross-staff
fessewise.
[Illustration]
SADDLERS.--A chevron between three manage saddles complete.
[Illustration]
SALTERS OR DRYSALTERS.--Party per chevron, three covered cups
sprinkling salt; crest, a cubit arm erect, holding a covered cup, or
salt sprinkler.
SCRIVENERS.--An eagle with wings expanded, holding in his beak a
penner and inkhorn, standing on a book, closed, fessewise, the clasps
downwards.
SHIPWRIGHTS.--On an antique hulk, the stern terminating with the head
of a dragon in the hulk, the Ark with three doors in the side, from the
Ark against the side a step-ladder; on a chief the cross of St. George
charged on the centre with a lion passant-guardant.
SILKMEN.--A ship of three masts in full sail on the sea, in base; on a
chief a bale of silk, corded, between two bundles of silk, pendant.
SOAPMAKERS.--A dolphin naiant between three eel spears.
STATIONERS.--On a chevron between three Bibles fessewise, clasps
downwards, garnished and leaved, an eagle, rising, between two roses
seeded and barbed; from the chief a demi-circle of glory edged with
clouds, therein a dove displayed and nimbed.
[Illustration]
TALLOWCHANDLERS.--Party per fesse a pale counterchanged; on the first
three doves each holding an olive branch. In place of these arms the
devices commonly found on tokens issued by tallowchandlers are: a
man making candles; a stick of candles; a stick of candles within a
crescent moon; one or three doves with olive branch, etc.
[Illustration]
TIN PLATE WORKERS AND WIREWORKERS.--A chevron between three lamps, the
two in chief (one light each) facing each other, the one in base with
two lights, all garnished and illuminated.
[Illustration]
TOBACCONISTS.--Usually a roll of tobacco; or one, two, or three pipes;
or a combination of pipes and tobacco.
UPHOLDERS OR UPHOLSTERERS.--On a chevron between three tents (without
poles) ermine and lined, as many roses.
[Illustration]
VINTNERS.--A chevron between three tuns (barrels).
WATERMEN.--Barry wavy of six; on the middle bar a boat; on a chief two
oars in saltire between two cushions, tasselled.
WAX-CHANDLERS.--On a chevron between three mortcours as many roses.
WEAVERS.--On a chevron between three leopards’ heads, each holding a
shuttle, as many roses, seeded and barbed. On tokens sometimes three
leopards’ faces alone, without shield, are used.
WOODMONGERS.--A sword erect, hilted and crowned (or enfiled with
a ducal coronet) between two flaunches each charged with a faggot
(or bundle of laths). On one token, that of Govin Gouldegay,
of Whitefriars, the arms are a chevron between three faggots.
[Illustration]
WOOLMEN OR WOOLPACKERS.--A woolpack.
[Illustration: “King’s Head,” Derby.]
[Illustration: “King’s Arms,” Uttoxeter.]
[Illustration: “Crown,” Repton.]
Ale-house and shop-signs were much used as devices on tokens; but,
of course, occurring as they do by the hundred, are too numerous
to particularize. Sometimes the sign was named in addition to the
device, but at others the name or the device was alone used. Thus for
instance:--
[Illustration: “Red Lion,” Ashbourne.]
[Illustration: “George and Dragon,” Uttoxeter.]
[Illustration: “Bunch of Grapes,” Bolsover.]
_Obv._ WILLIAM WEBB AT THE = Within the inner circle the figure of St.
George and the Dragon.
_Rev._ IN SITTINGBORN, 1670 = Within the inner circle, in three lines,
HIS HALF PENY.
_Obv._ EDMOND HOLT AT THE = Within the inner circle a ship.
_Rev._ SHIP IN RATCLIFFE, 1668 = Within the inner circle, in four
lines, HIS HALFE PENY. E.H.
[Illustration: Arms of the Borough of Derby.]
Arms of cities and towns are found not only on those tokens which were
issued by corporations, mayors, or other bodies or officials, but by
some tradesmen. Of the first an example or two will be sufficient:--
_Obv._ THE MAYOR OF = A shield bearing the arms of the city of Oxford;
an “Ox” crossing a “Ford.”
_Rev._ OXFORD TOKEN = C.O., 1652. A small R for Rawlins the die sinker.
_Obv._ A BECCLES FARTHING, 1670. B = In four lines across the coin.
_Rev._ The arms of Beccles, a cattle pen, and Town Hall.
_Obv._ A BRISTOLL FARTHING = C.B., 1652, and a small R for Rawlins the
die sinker.
_Rev._ THE ARMES OF BRISTOLL = The arms of Bristol on a shield.
Of family arms, which are occasionally met with on tokens, and also
of crests, the following engraved examples will be sufficient to show
their general character.
[Illustration: Arms and Crest of Shalcross.]
[Illustration: Arms and Crest of Manaton.]
[Illustration: Arms and Crest of Gent.]
[Illustration: Arms of Coates.]
[Illustration: Crest of Rossington.]
Merchants marks, some of which are curious and of considerable
interest, were to some extent used. They were, indeed, of much the same
use as the “Trade Marks” of our own day. Other devices are implements
of one kind or other connected with the trade or calling of the issuer;
articles of clothing made or sold by him; animals and heraldic figures
usually derived from guild arms or from signs; articles of domestic use
of endless variety; and ships, boats, coaches, carriages, pack-horses,
and numerous other matters connected with the daily life of the people.
[Illustration]
Rebusses and allusive designs--that is, devices containing a play upon
the name of the issuer--are far from uncommon. Thus James Bolton, of
Blackburn, adopted on each side his tokens the device of a _bolt_ and
_tun_; Thomas Towers, of March, a _tower_; Anthony Rachell, of Wisbech,
a “_rachalled_” or cogged _wheel_; Walter Coates, of Stockport, a
_colt_; Francis Woodward, of Crutched Friars, a _wood-ward_ mounted and
blowing his horn; William Archer, of Deptford, an _archer_ with bow and
arrow; Hannah Bell, of Tooley Street, a _bell_; Hugh Conny, of Potton,
three _conies_; John Curtis, of Yarmouth, two men _curtseying_; Robert
Hancock, of Whitefriars, a _hand_ and a _cock_; Ralph Harbottle, of
Great Torrington, a _hare_ and a _bottle_; Robert Thornhill, who kept
the “Bull” inn, a _Bull_ standing under a _Thorn_ tree on a mound or
_hill_; and so on.
[Illustration]
Very frequently, and sometimes on the obverse and at others on the
reverse, are the initials of the issuer or, more frequently still,
those of the issuer and his wife tied together with, or having between
them, a “true lover’s knot,” with floral or tasselled terminations. The
initials in the latter case are thus arranged
M
I·K, that of the family name (Malyn) at the top, and those of
the Christian name, of the husband (John) and wife (Katherine), at the
sides as here engraved from a Duffield token.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
On some the issuer has, as will occasionally be met with by the
collector, introduced some remarkably quaint inscriptions. Thus on a
token of Richard Bakewell, of Derby, 1666, is the curious inscription,
GOOD MORROW VALENTINE, the device being two doves billing. On another
Derby token, that of William Newcome, we have on the obverse, TOVCH NOT
MINE ANOINTED, and on the reverse DOE MY PROPHETS NOE HARME. On one of
Samuel Hendon, of Macclesfield,
WELCOME YOU BE
TO TRADE WITH ME.
On one of Thomas Cotton, of Middlewich,
ALTHOVGH BVT BRASS
YET LET ME PASS.
On one of Ann Greene, of Skipton, I WILL EXCHAING MY PENY. Others refer
to the use and benefit of tokens alike to the poor and to the traders.
Thus on one of Andover, on one side we have, FOR YE POORE’S BENEFIT,
and on the other, HELP O’ ANDEVER, 1666; on one of Winchcombe, REMEMBER
THE POORE; on one of Croyland, THE POORE’S HALFE PENY OF CROYLAND,
1670; Great Yarmouth, FOR THE VSE OF THE POORE; Chard, THE BVRROVGH
OF CHARD MADE BY YE PORTREEVE FOR YE POORE; Southwold, FOR THE POORES
ADVANTAG; Tamworth, FOR CHANGE AND CHARITIE; Worcester, FOR NECESSARIE
CHAING; and so on in very great variety. They were often issued by the
Mayor, the Portreeve, the Overseers, the Chamberlain, or other official
for public convenience.
* * * * *
The best, indeed only worthy, book on the general subject of
seventeenth century tokens is Boyne’s, published in 1858, in which
close upon ten thousand examples are carefully and minutely described.
Of the more modern tokens--those so abundantly issued during the thirty
years preceding 1818--and of the silver tokens of the latter part of
that period which, including the Bank Tokens, number some four hundred
varieties, I purposely abstain in this little work from giving any
particulars.
Of those of silver and gold, Boyne’s “Silver Tokens of Great
Britain and Ireland,” etc., published in 1866, is the best and most
comprehensive list that has been prepared. Of those of copper, Batty’s
“Descriptive Catalogue,” in which some twenty thousand varieties are
minutely described, is as exhaustive a list as could well be prepared.