Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Coins, Tokens and Medals of The East Riding of Yorkshire / by Philip Whitting
Coins, Tokens and Medals of The East Riding of Yorkshire / by Philip Whitting
by
PHI Ll P WHITTING
COINS, TOKENS AND MEDALS
OF THE
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE
EAST YORKSHIRE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
/ 969
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B
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CONTENTS
Map
Introduction
Regal Coinage
17th-Century Tokens
Ixrh-Century Tokens
.Ipth-Cenrury Copper Tokens
19th-Century Silver Tokens
Private Tokens, Medals, Badges, etc. with an
East Riding connection
Hoards and Casual Losses
Frontispiece
Page
6
8
36
42
48
67
H Bibliography, Abbreviations and Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
77
80
-
Illustrations I-XVI Between pages 38 and 39
o do",',,, "t.,
17th century.
"" I
the
t which tokens were issue I Places a
INTRODUCTION
It may appear presumptuous for one who has no roots in the East
Riding, no work there and even no collection of its tokens, to intrude
into an important province of the local historian, relying on a little
numismatic expertise in a different field. But there is a call for a guide
to the coins and tokens of the area if only to present the local
historian with a quick reference point and perhaps to concentrate
his attention on certain names of quite ordinary people as they
appear in various records. The author, too, has been truly fortunate
in finding many friends and helpers, both locally and in specialised
fields of research, whose assistance is recorded with gratitude at rhe
end of this pamphlet.
For two reasons in particular the token and regal coinage of the
East Riding needs a restatement. It is not simply that new discoveries
have been made, rendering earlier assessments incomplete and out of
date, though there are a few such and especially is this true of the
regal coinage of the region. But first, the destruction of the Second
World War has left no collection open to the public which can be
described as comprehensive or complete. Secondly, the intrusion of
details about token issuers' lives, culled from the 'notorious forgery'
of Alderman jobnson's Memoirs, has muddied the waters of
research despite efforts to prevent it. Elimination of this material is
not as casy as it sounds, but at least this pamphlet can bring the
problem into the open so that everyone can be on guard.
'It is remarkable', wrote Tom Sheppard in 1925, 'to what extent
almost every phase of history, art and science can be illustrated by
numismaticet--one might add, not only illustrated but enlarged and
enriched. Coins are an original source of history and indeed very
often the only evidence available. Their worth may appear in the
most unexpected ways: in 1968, for instance, a medal with no
apparent connection with the East Riding raised the question
whether, and if so when, where, and with what result, a plant for
the distilling of sea-water was set up at Hull in the period 1685 to
1700.
1
One Robcrt Fitzgerald took out a patent early in 1685 for the
distillation process and the medal, dated 1687, shows the substantial
equipment at work, installed on an estuary. A lawsuit developed
between Fitzgerald and a Mr. Walcot from which it is clear that this
important invention was not uniformly successful, but it was claimed
thar the equipment was set up originally in Hull, Sheerness and the
Channel Islands. The estuary as shown on the medal could be that
of the Humber or the Thames but the point here is that a series of
questions of a somewhat unusual nature has been asked.
Tom Sheppard and his deputy J. B. Fay, who followed him in
charge of the Hull Museums in 1941, were both convinced of the
importance of coins, though many then regarded thc study of tokens
in particular as 'puerile' and 'contemptible': today tokens are an
important part of the mosaic of which social and economic history
1The enquiry into the background of this mOODl was made by Mrs. J. S.
Martin of the Brhieh Museum, Department of Coins and Medals, who kindly
communicated it to the author.
1
,
,
I'
is composed. Sheppard and Fay set out to build up a complete
collection of Yorkshire tokens, concentrating naturally enough on
Hull and the East Riding. Sheppard was well known to the London
dealers, both in person and by correspondence, and several of his
purchases are traceable to the firm of A. H. Baldwin and Son, where
he is arill remembered. The magnificent collection built up at Hull
and proudly recorded in some of its Museum Publications (notably
Nos. 94, 1l9, 127 and 149) was scattered with all its records in the
smouldering rubble of the Albion Street museum after the German
air raid on the night of 24 June 1943. For Sheppard, members of
his family agree, it was a mortal disaster. The collection at the Leeds
Museum had suffered the same fate in 1941, with the result thar the
researcher in this field today has less material in public collections
to work upon than had earlier writers. A brave attempt to salvage
the Hull collection was made, as the substantial series on show today
bears witness, but the sad condition of these fragile relics is equally
obvious.
The long drawn out aerial bombardment of Hull may also have
been responsible for scattering or destroying smaller collections of
local tokens and books about them, for both are hard to find today.
The difficulty ofstudying tokens is enhanced by the rarity of standard
national publications like those of WiUiamson, Dalton and Hamer,
and W. J. Davis. all originally published in editions of three hundred
copies or less."
Before going on to private collections it might be as well to deal
with W. A. Gunnell's Sketches of Hull Celebrities or Mem(!rs and
Correspondence of Aldermen .. . 1640 to 1858, printed
locally and published by subscription in 1876. This long, rurgid and
wilfully misleading forgery was fully exposed in 1893
3
and already
in 1880 the editor of the Numismatic Chronicle appended a warning
note to an article by H. S. Gill on 'Unpublished Yorkshire Tokens of
the 17th Century'." C. E. Fewster, who was responsible for the
Yorkshire section in G. C. Williamson's defirririve Trade Tokens
issued in che 17th Century,S acknowledged the help of H. S. Gill as a
student of tokens bur of his extracts from the Iohnson Memoirs he
added, 'we do not admit (them) as authentic'. Fewster did not
include in Witliamson's book a number of notes on rhe token issuers
which he had nsed in a series of artides in 1883.
6
Most, bur not all,
of rhe omissions had rheir origin in the Johnson Memoirs.
Through H. S. Gilt and Charles Pewsrer-cstudents and colleetors
hoth-c-details of the lives of token issuers, and of spurious tokens as
well, hove filtered uneasily into books and lecrures from the johnson
Memoirs, which appear to go out of their way to introduce tokens
wrnremson and Dalron and Hamer were both reprinted in 1967.
See A. G. Dickens and K. A. MacMahon, A Guide w Regional Studies 1'1I1lir
Eau Riding tJj Yorkshire and the City of Hull (1956), p. 48.
Nllmi,mQ/h Chronicle, New Series, vol. XX, p. 234.
Vel. II (J 891), p. 1306.
6 The Hull Coinage; being a List of the Coins and Tokens struck in Hult.
2
and the circumstances surrounding {heir issue. Those actually known
to have issued tokens and who are mentioned in the Memoirs arc:
R. Barnes S. Birkby W. Birkby
J. Blancherd W. Brockctr L. Buckle
(as Blanchard) J. Goodwin R. Perry
R. Fellowes W. Robinson J. Scorre
W. Robertson T. Watson J. Youle (as Yould)
R. Sugden
Tokens mentioned in the Memoirs but not known to exist are two
halfpennies by Iames Lycen and Cyprian Venture, hoth of Hull, the
latter having on the reverse 'Nothin Venture Norhin Win - 1669'.
Also included and illustrated in the Memoirs are 'three egg-shaped
coins', one of which is arrribured to rhe medieval merchant John
Rotenheryng and has MCCCX on the reversel-c-as illusory as
anything in the book.
Older books often refer to a manuscript work entitled 'The Local
Coinage of Kingston upon Hull' (dated 1848 but certainly finished
later), by John Richardson, a dental surgeon of no. 13 Savilc Street,
Hull. Efforts to trace this manuscript have proved unavailing and it
is not to be found in the Local History Collecrion at the Hull Central
Library or in the Hull Museums. Richardson was a collector and,
from what Gill writes, may have got into the orbit of thc johnson
Memoirs-cone cannot say.
It is a pleasure to move to some of the private collections of past
days, even if they are no longer available. C. E. Pewsrer was one of
the great collectors of Yorkshire tokens, in addition to writing about
them. He was a painr, colour and varnish manufacturer, born in
1847, and a grear collector of maps and old pictures of Hull, besides
coins nnd tokens. His coin collection was sold at Sorheby's in London
in 1898 and in a sale 'of moderate prices' fetched 700: a newspaper
report noted that Lot 165, composed of94 Hull tokens, was in strong
demand and brought 18. Fewster, ofno. 17Harley Street.Hull, and
beer of Hornsea, must have been a very keen collector Indeed, for
in 1884 he actually had printed a personal 'wants' list of 17rh-
century tokens so that as many friends and dealers as possible could
be on the look-out for him.
The buyer of Lot 165 in 1898 was WiIliam Sykes (1860-1941), a
founder-member of rhe Yorkshire Numismatic Fellowship (1909)
and President of the Yorkshire Numismatic Society in 1911-12.
Sykes, who gave duplicate tokens and other coins to the Hull
Museums and worked closely and in rivalry with Sheppard,
produced for the Museums the pamphlet Hull Coins and Tokens
(H.M.P. No. 8, l sr edn. 1902; 2nd cdn. 1923). He also, in 1910,
published a paper on 'Hull and East Yorkshire Tradesmen's Tokens'
in rhe Transactions of the East Riding Antiquarian Society, vo1. XVII.
Both publications contained useful line-drawings of varying quality,
and covered the whole field up ro and ineluding the 1811 silver
tokens by Rudston and Preston. Ir was a good choice to ask Sykes
to produce the token section of the official handbook for the Brirish
3
Association meeting in Hull in 1922, and the second edition of his
Hull Museum Publication No. 8 was in fact a reprint of this. Sykes
was an estate agent by profession who nor only collected tokens-
in 1910 he 'exhibited two trays containing all the known varieties of
the Hull l Zth-century tokens and many ofthe East Riding pieces'<-
but also issued them. In 1902 he issued seven tokens, manufactured
by J. A. Restail of Birmingham, showing prominent buildings of
Hull, not of course for genuine trade purposes but as 'private
tokens' showing numismatic craftmanship, to be given to friends.
When Sykes died, ut Cottingham, it was a matter of importance
to numismarisrs and local historians to know how his collection-
complete for Hull tokens, be it remembered-was bequeathed or
disposed of. It appears to have been sold in London in the 19405
and from the appearance of some rare pieces in a sale list of Messrs.
Spink and Son in 1949 it can he deduced that directly or indirectly
it came into their hands. What matters is that it seems not to have
survived intact and its buyers have not been so easily traced as in
the case of Charles Fewsrer's tokens.
One hopes that some at least of Sykes's pieces wenr to a presenr-
day collector, ....'hose Yorkshire token collection is by repute of great
importance bur which the author was not given the privilege of
studying. It had been hoped to base the list in this pamphlet on
that collection, as the pedigree of some of its pieces might have
assisted in clearing some of the tangles to which reference has been
made. Insread, the pieces owned hy Feweter, and marked by him in
Williamson as such, have been taken as the starting point in the
17th-cenrury section. As many pieces as possible have been included
in the illustrations, either as photographs or as line-drawings. The
photographs are inevitably of varying quality as the tokens were
often of poor metal, small, lightly engraved and worn in use, but the
difficulty of seeing rhe tokens has tipped the balance in favour of
including some photographs that may seem hardly worth while. All
the photographs of 17th-century tokens and that of Edward 1'8 Hull
penny have been enlarged, but all the line-drawings and the
photographs of the two surviving Hedon pennies are of actual size.
In the lists which follow, rhe symbol * indicates that the coin or
token will be found amongst the photographic illustrations, while
t means that it is included in the line-drawings. The author has had
to admit defeat in his effort to see or find credible representations of
all the pieces issued in rhe East Riding, though his search extended
over three years and reached the D.S.A., where the help of Mrs.
Henry Norweb of Cleveland, Ohio, enabled some gaps to be filled.
Some borderline pieces have been included in the material selected,
where a prominent character-like Picard and his 'Wellington'
pennies and halfpennies-is involved. Some of the tiresome varia-
tions in l8th- and 19th-century tokens have also been included as a
matter of reference in spire of their lack of importance, and basic
reference numbers are given from the classic authorities: Williamson
for the l7rh century, Dalton and Hamer for the 18th and W. J. Davis
for rhe tvrh. All are over fifty years old and eerrainiy in rhe case of
\';'illiarnson, the earliest and widest in scope, a new assessment is
4
It.
needed; R. C Bell, to whom me author is indebted in various ways,
is already looking at the later periods from a different angle. Any
pieces not included in these 'classic' works are inserted alphabetically
in the place they would have occupied, had they been known.
In dealing with East Riding tokens one comes back over and over
again to Tom Sheppard (1876-1945), for he was as enthusiastic
an acquirer of pieces for his museum as the most fanatical and
grasping privare collector. In 1927 he could write of me Hull
Museums' collections of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire rokens as
'unquestionably ... the finest collection in the world'. Unorthodox
in everything, he had the art of communicating enthusiasm. His
emphasis was perhaps more on collection than on interpretation but
that is a natural first srep, and it is lack of collected material that
makes difficulties for the student today. Sheppard's Hull Museum
Publications as a series and especially his own 'Yorkshire 17th-
century Tokens' (1913), along with his lists of medals (Nos. 109,
119 and 127), srill a neglecred side of this work, have been basic
in making the lisrs in this pamphlet. Another important aid, upon
which Sheppard himself could lean, has been the reliability of rhe
Yorkshire section in WiIliamson's book. Williamson was himself
revising rhe earlier work of a Yorkshirernan, W. Boyne, and he
handed this section to Charles Fewster, who remarked how few
were the pieces that needed to be added to Yorkshire compared
with other counties.
The principal object of this pamphlet is to present to those
interested in local and family history a list with the names and often
the trades of local people. The coins or tokens associated with them
were but a riny parr of their lives but they throw some light upon
those lives, especially when other details can be culled from parish
registers, wills, hearth-tax records and the like. The coins and tokens
are part of a mosaic of which much remains to be found; they throw
light but also need to be illuminated from other sources. Here is a
brief attempt to put the various classes of numismatic records in the
East Riding into their setting so that anyone withour numismatic
expertise can use them accurately, warch for new material and
eliminate the spurious. It carries also an urgent request to care for
rhis ofren rare source material of history, and to record new finds
scrupulously, if possible with photographs or drawings. The record
of finds included here is, except for its Roman elemenr, only a first
attempt and the medal section-s-perhaps of more inrerest to rhe
general reader than any other, and recording men and events with
an importance in a constant state of revaluation-could certainly be
larger. If readers see in them a challenge both to add' to and to
expand what they find here, these pages will have more than justified
the labour and enthusiasm expended by many helpers in producing
them. Wharever the upshot, it has been a privilege for the author
to follow, however inadequately, the footsteps of Boyne, Fewster,
Sykes and Sheppard: he particularly sympathises with the last-
named, who wrore characteristically of his collection in 1907, 'Like
poor Oliver Twist, we sadly want "more"'.
A. REGAL COINAGE
The East Riding is too near CO York for there to be mueh likelihood
of finding regal mint-towns there: the strange thing is that there are
(WO. It was to the capital of the North that governments had re-
course when currency was needed, and York was a mint-town in
Angto-Saxon, Norman, Plantagenet, Tudor and Stuart times. There
would be little need for others in Yorkshire but there are in fact
four-in the Middle Ages Hedon and Hull, and in the 17th century,
during the Civil War, Scarborough and Ponrefract. Of the former
two mints, onlv one issue was made from each, by Stephen at
Hedon after the Treaty of Winche:oter in 1153 and by Edward I
at Hull in 13(1).7
Hedon
*STEPHEN, Silver Penny
obv: Bust three-quarters left, bearded, crowned, holding
sceptre in right hand. Around, an inseription divided
by the bust: all within a beaded circle.
+STIEFNE
rev: Cross voided within beaded quatrefoil, in centre an
annulet, in each angle a fleur-de-Iys springing from
the quatrefoil. Around, an inscription between two
beaded circles.
+GER.ARD:ON:HEDVH
Only two coins survive from this issue, one in the collection of
A. H. F. Baldwin and the other in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow
-both, by kind permission, illustrated here; both are from the
same obverse die with different reverses bearing the name of the
same moneyer, Gerard. The issue, known as Stephen Type VII, is
recorded from 34 different mints and continued through the first
four years of Henry II's reign. The type represents the return of
royal control of the kingdom and of its currency, reinstituted by the
Treaty of W'inehester after a fantastic series of irregnlar mintages
during the eivil war.
Gerard is not a common moneyer's name, though it occurs at
York for the later 'Tealby' and 'Short-cross' issues, and at Lincoln
for the latter. The "Tealby' Gerard at York is almost certainly
Gerard FitzLefWin of the Pipe Rolls, but the Pipe Rolls (1156-7)
also refer [0 a Gerard, moneyer of Grimsby, paying into the Treasury
a mark of gold." Grimsby is unknown as a mint-town at any time
but this reference would fit Hedon, not many miles away as the crow
7 For derails of these issues I am indebted personally to F. Elmore-jones Ilnd to
his article, 'Hedon near Hull-a new Norman mint', in the Bnrish Numismatic
JOIIrnal,vol. XXVI (1949), and to Peter Woodhead, a specialist on the Edward
Penny series. Mr. Woodhead photographed both coins for the illustratlons. For
the Hull coin the standard reference is to the article by H. B. EarJe and J. S.
Shirley-Fox in Brit. NW1lls, Jnl., vol. IX (1913) .
.. TM Great Rolls oj rM Pipe for rhe 21ld, 3rd and 4th Years of . . . He". 11, ed.
J, Hunter (1844), p. 8].
6
flies, and rather later a prosperous pori of which the relics can stilt
be seen amongst its fields.
Exact!'.' whv a mint was set up at Hedon is not clear-as it is in
the case of Hull-though it points to a prosperity which in later
years the great church of St. Augustine was to proclaim far and wide.
The town is nor mentioned in Domesday Book, for Hedon was a
'new town', planted by the Earl of Aumale in the earlier 12th
century.
Hull
*EDWARD I. Silver Penny (Type IX b)
obv: Facing bust wirh open crown fleurie, and shoulders
clothed: inscription within two headed circles.
EDW R ANGL DNS HYB (Edwardus Rex Angliae
Dominus Hiberniae)
rev: Long cross pattee extending to the ourer edge of
the coin wirh three pellets in the angles and inscrip-
tion wirhin two beaded circles.
VILL KYN GES TON (Villa Kingston)
Provincial mints were opened at this time only when there was some
unusual demand for currency, in this case due ro the port's being
used for the Scottish campaigns: the demonetisation of inferior
foreign imitations of the English penny ('crockards', 'pollards' and
'Iushebournes', as they were called) in any event meant that good
coins were needed to replace them. On 29 March 1300 a number of
places, including Hull, were named as exchanges with moneyers.
Hull had four furnaces (compared with 30 in London and two in
Newcastle) and was associated with York, both of them farmed to
the Frescobaldi, who accounted to John de Sandale, Keeper of the
king's Exchequer." The records of York and Hull were never
separated and between 27 April and 31 December 1300 the two
mints coined 17,316 lbs. of silver: by the latter date coinage had
ceased at all the provincial mints except Newcastle. Mr. Woodhead,
from find records of surviving pieces, estimates the ratio of produc-
tion between Hull and York as 17:51. This suggests that Hull
coined some 4,300 lbs. of silver, or something over 1,000,000 pence.
The type LX b to which they belong is characrerised hy the use of
the 'pothook' N -broadly two parallel uprights-which appears
only between 1299 and 1302. The Hull pieces are nor uncommon
and when Sheppard refers ro two varieties (H.M,P. No. 100 (1914),
pp. 53-54) he must be referring to differences in dies, but ifso there
are many more rhan 1'.\'0. The coins were rather small and the inferior
quality of the dies was a matter of contemporary complaint. It seems,
too, that the difficulty of replacing dies from Westminster led ro their
being used to maximum capacity: rhis would be something more
than 30,000 coins from an obverse die, if it survived that long. As
yet no comprehensive die study of the Hull pieces has been under-
taken.
'See The Red Book of the Exchequer (Rolls Ser., 1896\ vel. ill, p- 966; Public
Record Office, E 372, ID. 44.
7
B. J7th-CENTURY TOKENS
As against the regal coinage of the kingdom issued by eommand
and through the agencies of the king and his ministers, token
coinage is unoffieial, local and generally personal. The pieces were
generally small and made of copper, bronze or hiuon." In the 17th
eentury there was an orgy of token issuing and over 12,500 in the
British Isles have been listed by WiHiamson, of whieh 4,350-odd
eome from London and Southwark. Kent issued more than any
other county (595) and Yorkshire comes next with 445, of which
78 can be attributed to the East Riding.
The neeessiry for tokens-and they were verirubly 'money of
neeesslty'<-seems to have heen brought about by the idea of 'noble
metals', so that it was thought beneath the dignity of the sovereign
to issue coinage other than of gold or silver, and by the slowness
amounting eo indifferenee of suceessive governments in meeting
cerrain publie needs. One sueh need was for adeqnare amounts of
small ehange. There was seldom enough and whar there was grew
smaller, and so more ineonvenient, as the priee of silver rose.
Eventually local traders and officials took rhe law into their own
hands and provided tokens to meet the need.
The Anglo-Saxon coinage was based upon the silver penny, whieh
to provide smaller sums had to be aerually cut into halves and
quarters. The position remained virtually unchanged until the time
of Edward 1, who issued halfpennies and farthings as well as his
better known groats. An extensive gold coinage began with Edward
1lI.
From the 13th eeruury, dehased continental imirations of English
pennies were coming inro the country and good silver pennies were
going out. It was forbidden to use the imitations as pennies, but for
one year, 1299, rhey were officially recognised as halfpennies, before
heing forbidden altogether and a new regal issue made, the one in
which Hull participated. These imitations, together with reckoning
counters, are often found in hoards mixed up with regal currency
and seem therefore to have been in regular, if wholly unofficial, use,
Under Richard 11 the shortage of small coinage was pointed out,
in relation both to commodities like bread and beer and 10 charitable
gifts [(II' the poor; agai.n, in l402, there was a petition for 'some
remedy for rhe great mischief amongst the poor people for want
of halfpennies and farthings of silver ... now so scarce'. Lead
tokens began to gain currency and Erasmus complains bitterly in
his letters about them.
Patterns for a regal copper coinage were prepared for Elizabeth I
but no issue was made and the smaUesr silver coin she issued was a
halfpenny which weighed only four grains. james I adopted the
expedient of giving: a licence ro Lord Harrmgton in 1613 to coin
copper far things , it was subsequently given suecessively to the
Duke of Lennox, the Duehess of Richmond and Lord Maltravers,
and it is kno....,o [hat these farthings were eirculating in Hull in /623.
10 Billon was an alloy of gold or silver with a base metal.
8
--
IHUMBERSIDE LIBRARIES I
The 'Harringtona' were not popular: they were small, thin and
sometimes tinned to make them look more like silver; worse still,
21 shillings-worth had to be exchanged for 1. But they had got
rid of the lead tokens and relieved some of the pressure; when they
were discontinued hy Parliament in 1644, resort to private tokens
again became a necessiry. Once more, patterns were made-some
by David Ramage, who also made some and probably a great number
of rhe private tokens being issued-but nn copper coinage was
forthcoming from the Commonwealrh government. At long last, in
1672, a regal copper coinage of halfpennies and farthings was issued
hy Charles Il, after which the issue of tokens and [heir circulation
was forbidden. The coins were good heavy pieces weighing 175
grains and 84, grains, as againer the 6-9 grain 'Harringtons' and the
poor-quality local tokens associated wirh rhe name of Ramage: none
of rhe local issues approached the regal pieces in weight or intrinsic
value.
The first great spate of Brirish tokens comes, rhen, in the period
1648-1672. There is documentary evidence to show thar a number
of them were made in London. The same design, sometimes
involving identical punches, has been found in widely scattered
places, and this poinrs ro tokens being ordered from a specialised
producer, as they were required. There appears ro be no evidence
as to where any of the Easr Riding rokens were made bur the mixture
of metals-brass and copper-s-used in rue same type, and the
designs, both poinr in the main to London and perhaps to David
Rarnage; so far, however, there is nothing ro prove it. Fewsrer
makes the point thar the halfpenny of WHliam Wilherforce of
Beverley is struck in brass and rhe farthing in copper. This seems a
commoner pair of issues than most and currently in dealers' rrays
rhere have been examples of each denomination in both merals.
Some East Riding tokens were certainly made locally, as for instance
W.154. Heart-shaped rokens, like the halfpennies of Richard Bames
and Mary Witham, are rare, as are italic inscriptions, such as those
on the tokens of Mary Witham again and of the two issuers at
Howden, Thomas Okes and John Wighton.
Denominations above a halfpenny are also rare as the usual object
of the issuer was ro produce something smaller; bur W'ilIiamJohnson
at the Coffee House in Bcverley produced a penny, as did Ralph
Porter of Bridlington.
Halfpennies generally proclaim themselves by 'His Half Penny'
on the obverse or reverse, and farthings-less proud-rend to have
no denominarion included in tbe type. In the Easr Riding series
there are two pennies, 50 halfpennies and 26 farthings, and, as might
be expected in a flourishing rown, Hull has seven issuers of both
halfpennies and farthings-Baker, Barnes, Rlancherd, Buckle,
Goodwin, Lambert and Stockdale.
Only in Hull are there sufficient token issuers to make a significant
analysis of trades possible, bur at present there is roo rnucb un-
certainty as to the trades followed. The following are represented;
innkeepers, grocers and mercers (these are regularly to be found),
pewterers, drapers, milliners, hatters, hosiers, shoemakers, tobacco
9
dealers, tallow chandlers, ships chandlers and corn chandlers .
One piece of Bridlington is inscribed 'For the use of the Poor',
with its clear reference to the use of tokens of small den ornination
for charity: occasionally it is put more dearly still-' Remember
the Poor'. Others have 'to be changed by the Overseers for the poor':
the overseers were frequent issuers of tokens and therefore respon-
sible for cashing them into regal coinage, as were orher issuers.
Tokens were only local in currency, as the good reputation of the
issuer had to be known for the pieces to be acceptable: but some
travelled far-for instance some from Surrey, many of rhem in rhc
strange River Hull find of 1911-as they tended to look alike and
were, of course, badly needed.
The arrangement of rhe initials of issuers may at first appear
confusing to newcomers to this study. Nonnally a man included his
wife's Christian name, putting the initial of the surname in the
middle of and above the tWO Chrisrian name inirials, as in the case
of the halfpenny of Georgc and Mary \X'ilherforce of Cranswick:
. W
GtM
Glancing at wider issues for a moment, tokens, when srudied
over an area the size of a county, can give valuable clues to social
and commercial development, looked at from grass-roots level, and
ro topography and communtcarions. The only East Riding road
mentioned in John Ogilby's Britannia, published in 1675, is that
from Hull to Anteby (Anlaby), Beverley, Crancich (Crunswick),
Kilham, Bridlington, Bridlington Quay and Flamhorough. It
includes a significant number of places issuing tokens. There were,
of course, other roads, giving aecess to the various markets in the
county. Other topographers either agree with or copy Ogilby and
from the road pattern it is difficult to suggest reasons for some places
having token issuers. The pattern of viable roads had changed
radically by the Iasr decades of the 18th century. Some indication,
however, of the 17th-century status of the token-issuing places is
given by the 1657 London topographical publication A book of the
names of all the England and Wales Parishes and AIarkcr Toums,
which Includes all rhe places where rokens are thoughr ro have heen
issued in the Easr Riding, except Anlaby and Aldbrough. The latter
is placed in the East but marked on the map in rhe North Riding.
Although tokens were of small denominations they were often
issued by men of substance, as will he seen in the list that follows,
and in all cases their usefulness as currency depended on rhe good
name and solvency of the issuer.
In this list tilt Williamson reference number is given on the left (if
there is no W', tire piece is not in W'illiamson but is inserted whe?t it
would have come); then there is 0 ducription of the dn-erse aridreverse,
each uiith its legend, and (>11 rhe right its denominauon. If it is of other
shape than round, this is noted before the denomination. At rhe end of
the description a name-rgenerally Fewster--"will be seen in brackets.
This is intended as an authentication of the piece as C. E. Feuister,
when eduing the Yorkshire section for W'ill/amsoll (1891), marked
10
'Inn
each token that he had ill his own cabinet and sofar m the EaH Riding
was concerned he had very nearly everyone knoum, This seemed a
better starting point than W. Sykes's cabinet, which was said (19/0)
to ha-vecontained <J.ll knoum varieties fur the East RIding: w'lforrtmate/y
there Seel/IS to be no list availablc of what was in the collection, irem by
item. Where Feaster fails fur one reason ur another, the present location
of on example is indicated. All the descriptions ha-vebeen checked against
the actual tokens where possible or againu photographs or drowings.
Where this has nor been possible, the fact has been noted. All stops,
whether lozmge-shaptd, cinquefoils, pellets, osterishs, fieur-de-lys, etc.,
have been represented as *, but colons, full stops and .: . are reproduced
as on the token. It is therefore necessary to consult the illustrations as
well as the descriptions, to be sure of derails. A -I< after the Williamson
number indicates that <J. photograph will be found in the illustrations,
and a t shows that a dr<J.Y.lling is included. Some of the photographs are
ob-viously not good, owing to the worn nature of the tokens themsel-ves,
but haoe been included as beuer than nothing, in view of the tokens
being so difficult to find.
Certain tokens which may be found mentioned elsewhere have
been excluded on [he grounds of insufficient evidence: these are
tokens of Cypnan Venture, William Robinson and lames Lycett,
all of which depend on the spurious Johnson Memoirs. Others which
are doubtful have been included and the reason for doubt noted,
namely those of Aldbrough, Langton and Lurid. The halfpenny
tokens of Beverlcy mentioned by Poulson (Beverlac, p. 807) as
possibly issued by 'Bower' in 1688 have also been omitted. His
examples were clearly in too bad a stare ro be read with certainty
and rhe dare is most unlikely; nothing that fits his drawing and
description has since been reported.
Aldbrough
Very doubtful attribution, though Pewster, as ediror for
Williamson, included both pieces on the grounds that
there had been a Ship inn there and that members of the
Yatcs family (also Issuing tokens at Bridlington in 1666)
were still residents in 1891. The spelling ALDBROUGH
on W.2 is also right for the East Riding. Both are also
claimed in Williamson for Suffolk and that of Briggs for
Norfolk, too. The West Riding Aldborough, which
returned members to the unreformed Parliament, has
also to be considered. More evidence from registers and
finds is dearly needed before a decision can be made.
W.1 obv: A ship -id.
IOHN . BR1GGS . OF . 1671
rev:I'B
ALBOROVGH . HIS' HALPENY (Fewsrer)
W.2 cbv: Family arms-a chevron between three gates
(a play on the name)
10HN . YATES . OF . ALBROVGH !d.
rev: A globe
HIS . HALFE . FENNY 1669 (Fewster)
11
Anlaby
W.6'" obv: Arms of the Newton family---crossed shin -id.
bones in salrire
*IOHN NEWTON 1669
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*01-' . ANLABY . NEARE . HVLL (Fewster)
Beverley
Beverley, writes John Ogilby, 'hath two markets weekly on Thurs-
days and Saturdays'.
\'1;'.23*
B
obv: A cheese knife with I E
*IONATHAN BRO\9;'NE
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*OF BEVERLEY 1670 (Fewster)
!d.
W.24* obv: A goat's head to left-part of the cordwainers' !d
arms.
*TIMOTHEY . BROWNE
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*OF . BEVERLEY . 1668 (Fewster)
W.25 ohv: A fleece id.
STEPHEN . GOACKMAN
rev: G
SM
MERCER IN BEVERLAY (Fewster)
This token has not been seen and therefore the details
not checked. Boyne says he was a mercer and grocer,
and one of the twelve governors of the borough in
1642; in 1663 he was appointed an alderman by the
charter of Charles 1I; he was elected mayor in 1667
and his will was proved in 1668.
I
\'1/.26 chv: \'1/. C Id.
1671
\'1/rLLIAM IOHNSON AT THE
rev: HIS
PENNY
COFPE . HOVSE . IN . BEVERLEY
(Fewster)
This token has nor been seen and therefore the details
not checked. A halfpenny which Gill quotes as in the
hands of J. Richardson was rejected by Pewster.
12
..-J
W.27* obv: Shield bearing the Royal Arms !d.
*GEORGELAMPLVGHATTHE
[King's Arms]
rev: *L*
G*A
, IN . BEVERLEY, 1664 (Fewster)
W.2H'" obv: As in W.27 above id.
rev: *L*
G*A
*IN*BEVERLEY*1666** (Pewster)
A King's Head still exisrs in Saturday Market.
W.29* obv: Arms of the Armourers' Company !d.
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
***
*IN*BEVERLEY*1669 (Fewster)
His will was proved in 1679.
W.30* obv: A fox to left -id.
*AT' THE' FOX IN BEVERLY
rev: S
W*I
*AT THE FOX' IN' BEVERLY (Fewster)
There is now no inn of this name in Beverley.
W.31'" obv: A beaver to left-part of the arms of Beverfey id.
*WILLIAM: 'SHEEREWOOD
rev; HIS
HALF
PENY
S
WA
*IN BEVERLEY 1667;. (Feweter)
His will was proved in 1668.
W.32'" obv: HIS id.
HALF
PENY
W
*WILLIAM . WILBERFOSS
rev: . * .
WM
.* .
*IN BEVERLEY
13
W.33"" obv: W
*WILL : WILBERFOSS
rev: .*.
WM
. * .
* IN . BEVERLEY* (Fewster)
WAS""
I:
I.:,
,,"
William wilberforce, a mercer and grocer, was made
a governor of BeverIey in 1642 and an alderman in
1664; he was mayor in 1643 and 1674.
Bridlington and Bridlington Quay
Of Bridlington John Ogilby writes, 'a safe harbour ... a place of
good rrade and enjoys a well-furnished market on Saturdays'; and
of Bridlingron Quay, then still a separate place about a mile to the
easr, 'a place where rhey ladc and unlade goods, which is chiefly
inhabited by maritime people'.
*
obv: B*B !d.
*B*
*FORTHEVSEOFTHEPOOR
rev: . *.
THEIR
HALFE
PENNY
0*0
. OF BVRLINGTON 1670 (Fewster)
obv: *B* -id.
BOB
*
*FORTHEVSEOFTHEPOOR
rev: .*.
THEIR
HALFE
PENNY
.*.
*OF . BVRLIGTON . 1670 (Fewster)
The rhree B's arranged two over one, which are
today incorporarcd in the borough arms, are first
known to ba...e been used in 1S89when it was thought
rhat rhcy had formed the arms of Bridlington Priory.
In rhe 19th century the town was still frequently
called BurLington.
14
WA7*
WAS*
WA9*
W.50*
obv: Shield of arms; on a chevron between three id.
muliers, a crescent
*BARTHOLANDERSON
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*AT BRIDLINGTON . KEY (Fewsrer)
His will was proved in 1679, when he was described
as a 'master and mariner'. Bridlingron Quay has a
longer history than is generally thought.
obv: Shield bearing the arms of the Grocers'
Company
*
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
. BVRLINGTON 1665 (Fewsrer)
The will of Thomas Bishop, mercer, was proved in
1668. The trades of mercer and grocer seem some-
rimes to have been combined-see W.25 and W.33.
obv: A raven to left: the arms of the Corbett family !d.
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*OF BRIDLINGTON 1668 (Fewster)
obv: Arms: a chevron between three mullets id.
*THOMAS CORBIT
rev: Arms of the Vintners' Company
. OF . BRIDLINGTON (Pewsrer)
W.51* obv: HIS
HALF
PENY
*WILLIAM . DICKESON:
rev: Arms of the Vintners' Company
*AT' BRIDLINGTON KEY (Fewster)
,d.
W.52* obv: HIS !d.
HALF
PENY
*THOMAS,FENTONOF
rev: Shield of arms of the Fenton family: a cross
between four fleurs-de-Iys
*BRIDLINGTON KEY (Fewster)
15
Id,
(Fewster)
W.53 obv: Shield of arms of the Fenton family id.
. THOMAS FENTON . OF
rev; F
TA
, BRIDLINGTON . KEY (Fewster)
This token has not been seen and therefore not
checked, His will was proved in 1673.
obv: .*.
HIS
PENNY
.*.
*RALPH ' PORTER
rev: M
R P (conjoined)
*IN BRIDLINGTON' 1670
W.54*
W.55t obv: Arms: a fleur-de-lvs between three butterflies id.
volam -
*NICHOLAS*WOOLFE
rev:'*'
1665
. *.
*OF*BRIDLINGTON (Fewster)
obv: A king's head to left !d.
*IOHN YATTES*1666
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
. *.
*IN BVRLINGTON . (British Museum)
Poulson includes this amcngsr his Bcverley tokens,
reading it John Taites 1666 / in Burlingwn. He also
includes a halfpenny ascribed to 'Bower', with tbe
scarcely possible date l68R, when cokens were illegal
and the need for [hem had been met by regal issues.
It remains a mystery but cannot be included in any
list as the original specimen must have been virtually
illegible,
"",56*
W.62t
Cranswick
obv: Arms of the Grocers' Company
*GEORGE . WILBERFORCE
rev: *\'1;'*
GtM
* *
*IN' CRANSWICKE 1670
George Wilberforce married Margaret
1664.
(Fewster)
Warton in
id.
I
16
W.91*
Ellerton
o ~ H I S ~
HALF
PENY
*ROBERT . IARVIS :
rev: Head of Charles II crowned to left
IN ELLERTON 1667 (Fewster)
Hedon
W.12ot obv: The sun in splendour 'id.
*SAMVELL . BAINES . OF
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*HEADON NEER HVLL 1667 (Fcwster)
Baines was Town Clerk of Hedon in 1654 and was
ejected from his office in 1662 by the commissioners
for regulating corporations. In an attack on the
injustices of the Corporations of Hull and Hedon in
1659, Robert Raikes described Balnee as 'a keeper
of unlicensed tippling houses, selling ale contrary to
the statute'. Baines must have been forced to resign
his position as town clerk and in 1662 seems to have
been running the Rising Sun inn, wirh which he may
have had earlier connections, if we are to believe
Raikes.
Hornsea
W.126t obv: A three-masrcd ship in full sail to left -id.
*BENIAAlIN*RHODES***
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*IN*HORNSEA*1670* (Fewsrer)
Benjamin Rhodes married in 1672 Isobel Bonfield
and had one son. His wife died in 1678 bur he
married again and had seven more children. The
story, with its pride and tragedy, can be read through
the parish registers. He was churchwarden in 1685
and died in 1728.
This seems to be rhe piece somehow drawn and
described by Boyne as of Francis Rhodes (sec H.M.P.
No. 95 (1913), pp. 16-18, where Sheppard in dealing
with this matter has confused the date). Fewster
seems to have been right in rejecting Prancis Rhodes
in spire of Boyne. The critical oversrrike of Benjamin
over Francis Rhodes referred to by Shcppard is no
longer in the Hull Museums, and the understriking
may have been a different token altogether.
17
Hcwden
W,128t obv: Three crowns in the royal oak with THO Yd.
OKES divided by the trunk
rev: of
Houlden
his haife
Pennv
1667 (Pewster)
The registers record the burial of successive wives-
Helen (1654), Anne Langton (married 1655; buried
1657) and Margaret (1669). He was to witness the
burial of several of his children before his own death
in 1688.
W.129* obv: John ,d,
WJghlOtz
of Houlden
1668
rev: Arms of the Wighton family-three boars
passant in pale
*HIS . HALF**PENNY* (Fewster)
John son of Robert Wighton was baptised in J630
and buried in 1688, His son Samuel was present at
Thomas Okes' wedding to Anne Langton in 1655
(see W.128).
Hull
Ogilby writes of Hull, 'its trade is hardly inferior to any in England
... and its market which is on Saturdays is well furnished with all
sons of provisions'.
W.131t obv: Arms of Hull-three crowns in pale Yd.
*r-.1ARGRET*ABBOTTIN*
rev: HER
HALF
PENY
*KINGSTON . VPPON . HVLL (Fewster)
Margaret Abbott kept The Three Crowns inn in
Market Place and is buried in St. Mary's, Lowgate.
132At obv: An arm holding a hammer, with I B below id.
. JOHN BAKER OF . KINGSTON
rev: . A
1665
*VPON . HULL PEWTERER
See Connoisseur, May 1927, and Coin arid Medal
Bulletin, Oct. 1950. The token was described and
illustrated by Sykes in 1910.
18
W.132* obv: A clothed arm holding a hammer to left id.
*IOHN . BAKER.;
rev:
I B
id.
(Peweter)
*OF*HVLL*1665.: (Fewster)
John Baker, pewterer, died in 1710, aged 78, and
was buried in Holy Trinity Church. He is said to have
been born in the Hammer in Hand inn (one such at
no. 187 High Street was pulled down in 1863) and to
have been known as the Protestant tinker. In 1669 he
was a chamberlain of Hull. In 1665 he appears 10
have had a tenement in Whitefriargate next to the
'Green Dragon'. In 1681 the Privy Council ordered
the prosecution of John Baker of Hull, pewterer, for
spreading false news. Sheppard's reference to a
penny token of John Baker (in W. Sykes's collection)
in H.M.P. 94 (l9l3), p. 27, is probably due to a mis-
print.
W.133* obv: Arms of the Grocers' Company (heart-shaped) -td.
*RICHARD*BARNES
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*
IN*HVLL*1669*** (Fewster)
W.134t obv: Arms of the Grocers' Company
*RICHARD . BARNES
rev: . *.
1672
. *.
*OF*HVLL**
19
W.135t obv: A wheatsheaf -!d.
*SAMVELL*BIRKBY*
rev: *B*
S*H
*
*OF*HVLL*1666* (Fewster)
W.136* obv: Arms of the Birkby family-three garbs -td.
*WILLIAM. BIRKBY' 1668
rev: B
WK
HIS,.,
PENY
***
*OFKINGSTON-VPPONHVLL
(Peweter)
W.137* obv: Three crowns arranged one over two -id.
*IOHN . BLANCHERD . IN
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*KINGSTON . VPON . HVLL (Feweter)
W.l38t obv: Three crowns arranged one over two [d.
IOHN . BLANCHERD IN
rev: *B*
I A
*KINGSTOWNE . ON . HVLL (Fewster)
Often recorded as Blanchard. He was a chamberlain
in (665 and sheriff in 1687; also, John Blanchard,
mercer and retailer, was among rhose admitted to
the Merchanrs' Society in the 1660s.
138A obv: Three geese, two over one !d.
* . EDW : BRANSLY . DRAPER
rev: *B*
E*M
72
*IN KINGSTON VPON HVL
In 1668 Edward Bransby was admitted a burgess by
apprenticeship with Thomas Lamberr, finendraper.
The mistake in the name, the very unusual spelling
of HVL and the date only two years before the
Government's prohibition of private token issues
may account for the great scarcity of this piece.
Indeed, the piece may be simply a 'proof' of a token
not subsequently issued at all, after this unsatisfactory
trial effort. It appears as an entry in MS. in Mr.
A. H. Baldwin's copy of Williamson, and this may
be the piece illustrated hy Sheppard in H.M.P., No.
172 (1931), r- 2.
W.l39t obv: Arms of the Broken family. Arms quarterly, -id.
first and fourth Broketr, a cross patonce: second
and third. a bar between three trefoils
. WALTER*BROKETT*I666
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
***
*OF KINGSTON*VPON*HVLL (Fewster)
This is an old Yorkshire family.
20
W.14Ot obv: A buckle -id.
*LYONELL BVCKLE IN HVLL
rev: *B*
L*A
*
*HIS HALFE PENNY 1665 (Pewster)
\t'.14It ohv: A buckle id.
*LYONELL BVCKLE
rev; . B
LA
*. IN HVLL 1665 (Fewster)
The buckle is clearly a rebus on his name. Pewster
notes a chamberlain of the name in 1639 and a sheriff
in 1681, as well as a member of rhe Merchanr
Adventurers' Society, but there may be some
confusion.
141A obv: * * * id.
MC
*MICHELL COPPY IN
rev: Arms of Hull: three crowns on shield
KINGSTON ON . HVLL,
Coppy was admitted a burgess of Hull in 1640; his
token was probably issued c. 1666. This piece, like
138A, appears in A. H. Baldwin's handwriting in his
copy of Williamson, and is also offered for sale in
Aug. 1949 in Spink's Numismatic Circular; it is
illustrated in H.M..P., No. 172 (1931), p. 2.
W.142* obv: An Indian with a bow and arrow to left -id.
*WILLIAM. FEILD AT YE. BLAK
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
1669
*IN . KINGSTON VPON . HVLL
(Mrs. Henry Norweb)
Sykes has a drawing of rhis (1910) and Pewster says
that Field kepr The Black Indian Man inn in Sewer
Lane.
W.143t obv: A stocking -id.
*ROBERT FELLOVES' 1668
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
. IN . KINGSTON VPON . HVLL
(Fewster)
21
"
""
I'
I:::"
,. "
"" .,'
". "
W.J44* obv: A rose and crown !d.
*IOHN . GOODWIN OF . KING:
rev: *G*
I R
*!*
*STONE . VPPON . HVLL . 1666 (Fewster)
W.145*t obv: A rose and crown td.
IOHN . GOODWIN OF . KING
rev: . *.
I G
.*.
*STONE . VPPON . HVLL (Fewster)
Sykes notes that the piece in the Hull Museums was
found during an excavation in King Edward Street.
W.146t obv: Arms of the Grocers' Company id.
*HENRY . HILLARD . IN
rev; *H*
H*E
1669
*KINGSTON . VPON . HVLL
(Hull Museums)
W.l47" obv: Three hats arranged two and one !d.
*EDWARD HODGSON MARCHT.
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
H
EM
*IN' KINGSTON ON HVLL:
(Fewster)
Hodgson was a chamberlain in 1667; he was among
those admitted to the Merchants' Society in the
1660s, described as a retailer of small wares and a
shopkeeper.
W.148" obv: A man (perhaps an Indian) smoking a pipe, !d.
to left
*GEORGE . HODGSON . 1668
rev: HIS
HALFE
PENNY
***
*OFKINGSTONVPPONHVLL
(Pewster)
22
-
149At
W.149t obv: A tar brush id.
PHINEAS HODSON
rev: . H
P,E
*IN*HVLL*1666* (Pewster)
He was a tallow chandler and retailer and was among
those admitted to the Merchants' Society in the
1660s.
obv: Shield bearing the arms of the Drapers' !d.
Company
*THOMAS*LAMBERT1664
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
*IN*KINGSTON*ON*HVLL
This piece is illustrated and described in a newspaper
note by Sheppard; it was presented to the Hull
Museums in 1903.
W.15ot obv: Shield bearing the arms of the Drapers' id.
Company
*THOMAS . LAMBERT
rev: *
T L
*
*IN*HVLL*1664* (Fewster)
Lambert was a draper, described as a milliner when
admitted to the Merchants' Society in the I660s.
Sykes notes that Lambert married Elizabeth Lowther
of Kexby at York Minsrer on 14 Apr. 1695, but the
dare seems more appropriate to a son or nephew.
Thomas was probably partner to Robert Lambert,
draper, who died in 1668 and whose tombstone was
in Holy Trinity churchyard in 1910.
W.151t obv: A swan to left id.
*RICHARD PERRY AT YE WHIT
rev: *P*
RM
*IN KINGSTON VPON HVLL (Pewster)
Perry was probably an innkeeper at the 'White Swan'.
W.152* ohv: A rabhit facing left, with hat above it !d,
*WILLlAM . ROBERTSON
rev: W' R with loops below ending in three flowers
above
*HIGH STREET' IN HVLL;. (Fewsrer)
Sheppard notes a variety of this with larger loops.
23
W.153t obv: A rabbit facing left with hatter's iron above it 'id.
*WILLIAM . ROBINSON
rev: R
W*[
*IN . KINGSTON ON . HVLL (Pewsrer)
This is the piece described as a 'large farthing' by
H. S. Gill. Rcbinson was a chamberlain in 1668 and
sheriff in 1682; he founded an almshouse in w hat is
now Prince's Dock Street in 1682, and in 1697
eonveyed ir to Trinity House.
W. t57t cbv: An anchor id.
*RICH ; STOCKDAILE . IN
rev:*S*
R*hl
. !D
*KINSTON ON HVLL (Fewster)
In 1652 Richard Stockdale, mariner, bought a
messuage in High Street and in 1665 he was put up
for, but not elected to, a vacant ussistantship of
Trinity House.
"
"
::::
.....
iI" '
,!.,,,
I:
, '.. ,
,11'"
I '
" ,"
,
I' .
I' I,
"
,
I1
"
W.154t obv: Lion passant, gardant to lefr
. THE GOVLDEN LYON AT
rev: A merchant's mark incorporating S
THE SOVTHEND . IN HVLL (Pewsrer)
W.155* obv: A rod (or possibly a brush)
*IOSHVA SCOTIE OF:
rev: A merchant's mark incorporating S.
*KINGSTON . VPON . HVLL (Fewster)
Scott was a chamberlain in 1690. Sykes thinks that
the device on the reverse indicates that he was a
member of the Merchant Adventurers' Company.
W.l56* obv: An anchor
*RICHARD . STOCKDAILL . IN
rev:*S*
R*M
. t
*KINGSTON VPPON HVLL 1665
(Pewsrer)
id.
id.
td.
24
Market Welghton
W.229* obv: Arms of the Mercers' Company
*NICHOLAS . CHAPPILOW
rev: . *.
NC
. *.
*IN' WEIGHTON 1664*
(Mrs. Henry Norweb]
Nicholas Chappilow died between Apr. 1687 and
Oct. 1688.
id.
\\' .230
M
obv: R M with bunchofgrapes belowthe M at top Jd.
*RICHARD . MARSHALL . OF
rev; HIS
HALFE
PENNY
*MARKET . WEETON . J (Fewster)
The parish registers record three children of
Richard Marshall, two who died before they were
a month old (1670 and 1672) and Robert, baptised in
1673. It is said that 'Market' was added to the name
Weighron as recently as 1829, despite the fact that a
market was granted in 1252. There are, however,
earlier documenrary references to' Marker Weighton',
and this token provides further evidence.
Pocklington
W.252* obv: HIS ld.
HALF
PENY
***
*BARNEY*BVTTREY**
rev; Interlacing ending in rhree flowers above
B B
*OF*POCKLINGTON*1666 (Pewster)
The parish registers record that he died in 1669.
25
2A
t
obv: Arms of the Grocers' Company id.
*IOHN*COOK*1666*
rev: Three flowers on a single stem above I C
*OF*POCKLINGTON
His will was proved in 1668. Sheppard purchased
this token from A. H. Baldwin and published ir in
H.."A.P. No. 94 (1913), p. 47, but it did not survive
the Second World War.
27
W.253 obv:I'H
IOHN HILL 1667
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
IN . POCKLINTON (Fewster)
jd.
W.254 obv: Arms of the Grocers' Company -id.
IOHN HILL 1667
rev: HIS
HALF
PENY
IN . POCKLINTON (Fewster)
The parish registers record chat John, son of John
Hill, was buried in 1670. Neither of the John Hill
tokens has been seen or checked.
South Cave
W.344t obv: HIS -id.
HALFE
PENY
*IQHN CHAPILOW, OF;.
rev: Three hats in pale dividing
CA-VE
*SOVTH NEAR HVLL 1668 (Fewster)
John Chapilow was a copyholder living in South
Cave Market Place in 1682, He was a foreman of
jurors in 1663, was fined. in 1665 for stopping the
town beck, and was in trouble in 1681 over fences
and in 1686 over a ditch. He appears in 1689 as a
customary tenant and was on the manor court jury
in 1695. In 1711 he surrendered his tenement in
Market Place to Robert Newton (East Riding Record
Office, DDBA).
28
1
IHUMBERSIDE LIBRARIES I
C. 18th-CENTURY TOKENS
It might be thought that the lesson of the ever pressing need for
small change WllUld have been learned once and for all by the
government in J672: bur it was not so. If it is difficult to explain
or excuse the earlier failures, it is still harder in the case of George
Ill's government, which took ten years to act upon a recommen-
dation from the Royal Mint in 1787 for a copper coinage. When it
came in l 797 it was a good one, as it had been in 1672.
The causes behind the second veritable flood of tokens which rook
place between 1787 and 1797 were the same as those behind the first.
Copper coins of small denomination were issued after 1672 but
only grudgingly and never in sufficient quantity. Then from 1754
to 1197 copper pieces were virtually not issued at all, except for
some 50,OOo-worth between 1770 and 1775; and even silver small
change was running short as well. Thus coinage of small denomina-
non was overworked, Imitated, clumsily forged and eventually eked
out with tokens.
The state ofthe coinage was probably worse than it had ever been
hefore owing to the rising population, industrialisation and the
increased use of money. Matthew Boulton, who for fifteen years or
more had campaigned for the reform of the coinage, wrote in 1789
that rwo-thirds of the coins passed to him in change at toll-gates
was counterfeit. One need go no further than the Royal Mint report
of 1787 to appreciate rhe degraded state of the currency: only
8 per cent. of the coin then in circulation, it claimed, had 'some
tolerable resemblance' to the regal issues, and it went on to recom-
mend that a new and much heavier issue of copper coins should be
struck. Forgery was proliferating and Patrick Colquhoun esrimated
that there were 3,000 forgers in London in 1797: he threw the blame
on failure to enforce rhe law, as to 1771 the counterfeiting of copper
coin had been made a felony.
Yer people had to use something to make their ordinary small
purchases and everything that looked like coinage seems to have
been grudgingly aceepted as grist to their mill. The new manu-
facturing companies, moreover, needed currency regularly for wage
payments. Copper was plentiful and cheap-hence the forger's
spree-and in 1787 the Anglesey Parys Mines Company set the ball
rolling by issuing penny rokens (and halfpennies in 1788), each
weighing an ounce of copper which came from their own mines.
Three hundred tons of copper were eoined by this company alone.
In the same year John Wilkinson, the grear ironmasrer, issued
halfpennies with his own bust on the obverse, looking for all the
world like an industrial George Ill.
Matthew Boulton had regarded the elimination of the counter-
feiter as the key point in reforming the coinage, and had set up
coining presses of a new type in his works near Birmingham with
this in view. Boulton, ill a lener, bears witness to the public's
appreciation of the Parys Mines Company's tokens, some of which
were made by his own firm; he had also turned our excellent coins
for the East India Company on his new presses. When the govern-
29
,
,
l
ment awarded him its 1797 contract, it had plenty of evidence to
go upon. In 1790 the firm of Boulton and Wan was using steam to
operate multiple presses. The Birmingham area became the centre
of token manufacture and the Hull pieces of 1791 were made there
by Hancock. The tokens of the 1787-97 period are very different
in type from those of 1648-72, even if the conditions bringing them
into being were much the same. First, they were larger, better and
intrinsically more valuable than the regal copper, even when 'fire
new from the mint'. Their 17th-century forerunners had been small,
thin and generally speaking of poverry-stricken design. Secondly,
there were fewer issues in the 18th century, but many of them were
big ones. Dalton and Hamer list some 4,300 types, including a
number of varieties due to recurring dies and using new ones.
Thirdly, they were almost exclusively of copper, unlike the mixed
metals used in a single issue earlier. Fourthly, Birmingham not
London became the manufacturing centre for tokens and through
the pieces there shines a certain pride in the products of a new and
scientifically orientated centre of national wealth. Fifthly, the term
'token', applied to these pieces, takes on a new dimension. In complete
contrast to the 17th-century pieces, the tokens of the Parys Mines,
for instance, were worth their denomination in copper and in this
sense were not tokens at all: they are always classed as tokens because
they were private issues and not regal ones. Lastly, a new complica-
tion enters into the matter in rhe 18th century, as not all the tokens
were made for we. The new tokens were so attractive, with their
representations of rilt hammers, factories, inclined planes, iron
bridges and smoking chimneys, that collectors began to appear at
once and some pieces were made especially for them, or simply as
a medium of advertisement. Hence arose the term 'genuine trade
token' (or GTT to the specialist), to distinguish what a recent
writer has called true 'commercial coins'.
Some justice was done when in 1797 the firm of Boulton and Watt
was given thegovernment contract to produce a new copper currency,
which included the famous 'cartwheel' or twopenny piece, weighing
precisely rwo ounces. In producing denominations of 2d., l d., id.
and id. between 1797 and 1799 the Soho mint at Birmingham coined
1,550 tons of copper into finely-struck pieces, of good value and
uniform size and weight, which the counterfeiters could not easily
afford to match. The quantity may help to convey an idea of the vast
proportions of the national currency problem. Nor was even this
tonnage enough to do the job, as will appear later.
In rhe list which follows, references in the left-hand column are to
the 'classic' publicaiion on this series, The Provincial Token Coinage
of the 18th Century, by R. Dalton and S. H. Hamer (D & H). Other
references will be given to R. C. Bell's current publications, when
auailabie, as the author [ollouis closely the work of R. T. Samuel in
Bazaar, Exchange and Mart at the end of the last century, not easily
sun today: they emphasise the distinction between 'commercial coins'
on the one hand and on the other, 'tradesmen's tickets', advertising and
pers01lal tokens and collector's pieces generally. The righr-hand column
contains the denomination: and, as before, a -11: or t indicates respecrively
cl photograph or line-drawing.
30
D&H 13*
D & H l:la
D & H 13b
D&H Be
D & H Dd
D & H 13e
Beverlev
obv: Three balls suspended as a sign, with the !d.
lower one dividing the date 17 - 97
*1 GREEN PAWNBROKER BEV-
ERLEY
rev: Two sprigs of leaves issuing from D goat
the top and enclosing six lines of inscrip-
tion: MONEY
LENT
ON PLATE
WEARING
APPAREL
&c
edge: Plain
edge: PAYABLE IN DUBLINOR LONDON.
edge: PAYABLE AT I. DENNIS LONDON.
edge:PAYABLEATLONDONORDUBLIN.
edge: Milled.
edge: RICHARD DINMORE & SON NOR-
WICH.
D & H note: 'These were struck over other
tokens, and in many cases show traces of the old
inscription'. One could draw the conclusion
that they were nor intended as GTT and they
are not Included as such in Charles Pye's con-
temporary list, or by Bell. They are rare (the
varieties a---<" very rare indeed) and Berry's
Catalogue (no. 2802) has one in brass struck
over a token of 1795. They have several unusual
features and are probably not GTT, though
neither die is known to be 'mu1ed' with any
other. Green Is not traceable as an inhabitant
of Beverley, though Bell claims that there was
a John Green, pawnbroker, in Beverley er this
time.
nor in D&H* obv: Arms of Bever1ey-l and 4 an eagle dis-Id.?
played; 2 and 3 berry wavy: a beaver
statanr regardant in chief
THE BEVERLEY . BROTHERLY
SOCIETY ESTABLISHED 1776
rev: IOHN GOULD
FATHER (Beverley Museum)
These arms were in use, with three others, in
1585. Borh Davis and Bell refer to this 'very
fine pieee rhe size of a penny in the 18th
century', but do nor describe or list it. In the
31
D&H 17t
,
',,,
'. ""
i" '
'.. ",
:1 " D&H 18
,I
D&H 19 1
,
D&H 20
1:1'
20a
D&H 21
I
East Riding Record Office (DDBC;'25j72) is a
possible reference to this John Gourd, a barber
obtaining a 21-year lease from Beverley Cor-
poration in 1754 of 'part of the Pillory House
in Saturday Market, including two shops'.
Oliver refers to the Society in 1829 as then
having 378 members.Batry'sCcre/ceetno. 629)
calls it 'penny size'; it is a little smaller than the
1813 threepence of the New Friendly Society.
Hull
obv: An equestrian statue of William III !d.
laureate in Roman dress, holding baton in
right hand. In exergue :v1.DCLXXXIX
GULIELMUS TERTIUS REX.
rev: Ashield bearing the arms of Hullv-c-rhree
crowns in pale: between two sprigs of
oak crossed at the bottom, and bearing
acorns, seven to the right and eight to the
lefr. Above HULL HALFPENNY with
1791 between this and the shield
edge: PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE
OF IONATHAN GARTON & CO -x.
As in J7 but rev. has seven acorns on each side !d.
As in 17 bur obv. has letters ofREX very close id.
together with the X well above the horse's
knee. Rev. has eight acorns on either side
As in 17 hut obv. has the baton pointing up- id.
ward more ohviousfy and horse's ear
rouches the I of TERTIUS. Rev, has
eight acorns as in 19
Variety with edge plain !d.
As in 17 above but obv. has baton pointing up- !d.
ward and horse's ear touching I. Rev. has
first 1 of date under the centre of H above
Five tons were struck by Hanrock of Birming-
ham, who was also the die-sinker. All types are
common, except D & H 18 and the very rare
D & H 1(); the latter used an unfinished obverse
die of D & H 17-the lack of the date is an
obvious difference-and has on the edge
PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF
Ill.
" Heraldic tinctures cnll he tendered on coin. by different directions of shading
lines. In this case, us R. C. Bell points <)1.1[, it is improperly done, argent instead
of azure being indicated IN' the field, For the correct rendering M' tinctures on
coins and engravings, sec Bell, CQ'liI/ifrdal Coin" 1787-1804 (1963), op- 2BB-9.
:31
c
D & H 22t
22,
22b
22,
22d
ALEXANDER HUTCHISON . X It has
been left out of the main listing because it
seems to have been a trial piece which was dis-
carded. Batty's Catalogue (nos. 2814-2825) has
21 examples of the common types with die
flaws, countcrmarks and other aberrations.
The Geruleman's Magazine of 1731 tells how
'in two days by way of subscription near 500'
was raised in Hull 'pursuant to a resolution to
erect a statue of Wi1liam III on their Market
Hill'. The Peter Scheemakers statue, which was
erected three years later, seems to have been
the one Bristol rejected in favour of Rysbrach's
in 1733.
Garton and Shackles were linen drapers in
Market Place. jonarhan Garton was a trustee
of the Holy Trinity Church burial ground in
Castle Street; in 1788 he leased a house and
garth 'on West side of within North Bar' at
Beverley. The token is well-designed and well-
manufactured, a good example of a GTT (Bell,
Commercial Coins, pp. 204-5).
obv: Arms of Hull etc. as on the tev. of !d.
D & H 17, with slight differences in the
oak sprigs and curved l's in the date
rev: A rhree-masted ship sailing right with
sprigs of leaves below the water, and no
legend
edge: PAYABLE IN HULL AND IN LON-
DON
As in D & H 22 but on edge PAYABLE IN !d.
LEEK STAFFORDSHIRE
As in D & H 22 hut on edge PAYABLE AT !d.
GOLDSMITH & SONS SUDBURY
As in D & H 22 but on edge PAYABLE IN ,!d.
LONDON BRISTOL & LANCASTER
As in D & H 22 but edge plain !d.
All the varieties 22a - d are rare. Pye says that
many of these pieces circulated in Ireland but
onlv half a ton were struck. Thev are not
included as GTT by Bell. Manufactured by
Kernpson, of Birmingham; diesinker, Wyon.
In his Specious Tokens R. C. Bell notes that
the obverse is from a die similar to Hancock's
but that the reverse die is one manufactured
JJ
D&H 23t
23a
23b
23c
D&H 24t
D & H 2St
by Kempson for Portsea (Hants.). This last
was used with three other Kempson dies
(D & H 23, 24 and 25 below). 'This would
seem', writes Bell, 'to establish that Kempson
was the manufacturer of this piece, and not
Hancock ... 19 stated by A. W. waters'.
obv: Arms of Hull etc. as in D & H 22 !d.
rev: A rhree-masred ship sailing right as in
D & H 22 but with' 1794' in exergue and
PRO BONO PUBLICO above
edge: CURRENT EVERY WHERE
As in 0 & H 23 but edge has PAYABLE IN ~
LONDON BRISTOL & LANCASTER
As in D & H 23 but edge milled id.
As in D & H 23 but edge plain ~
Obv. bears the date 1791 and rev. 1794, perhaps
the reason for Bell's rejecting all these as GTT.
They are, however, common. Batty's Catalogue
includes one (no. 2827A) with a mistake on the
edge giving ISTOL for BRISTOL, though this
is. likely to be due to a manufacturing fault.
Manufacturer, Kempson.
cbv: Arms of Hull etc. as in D & H 22 !d.
rev: The figure of Hope with an anchor in left
hand
PROSPERITY TO OLD ENGLAND
edge: PAYABLE IN HULL AND IN LON-
- DON
A scarce piece, probably not a GTT and
omitted by Bell as sueh. Manufacturer,
Kempson.
obv: Arms of Hull etc. as in D & H 22 !d.
rev: St. Andrew holding his cross before him
and a thistle on either side: in exergue
'1791'
NEMO ME JMPUNE LACESSET
edge: PAYABLE IN LONDON BRISTOL
& LANCASTER
A scarce piece, probably not a GTT, and
omitted by Bell as such. Manufacturer,
Kempson..
It will be seen that, except for the William III
tokens of jonathan Garton CD & H 17), none
34
of the above pieces has an issuer's name and
therefore no one responsible for cashing ir into
coin of rhe realm. This immediately throws
doubt on their being GTT: it looks as if the
manufacturer was combining a series of dies
with the Arms of Hull die used in the genuine
Jonathan Garton piece, with an eye on the
interest of collectors. A number of other tokens
have no reference ro Hull on the obv. or rev.
but are PAY... ,,\BLE AT HULL and other places
named on the edge: again there is no one
mentioned as responsible for cashing the
tokens. Many of these seem re be 'mules',
designed as rarities for collectors, but some were
probably manufactured for general circulation
by tradesmen ordering a quantity for their own
use, in which case they are, of course, com-
moner. Kempson was responsible for a number
of the following, all of whieh have on the edge
'PAYABLE AT HULL AND LONDON'.
1. obv: A bust of Sir Isaac Newton !-d.
rev: A cornucopia of fruit etc. with 'Halfpenny'
above and '1793' below
t2. obv: A bust left: 'Earl Howe & (he Glorious First -id.
of June'
rev: Crown, sceptre and palm branch radiated,
over 'King and Constitution'; below
'1794'
t3. obv: A building with 'Shirehall' below !-d.
rev: as in No. 2
t4. obv: A dove and cornueopia, 'Peaee and Plenty' tel.
rev: Britannia seared left with globe, lion and
anchor: above 'Halfpenny' and below
'1794', Manufactured by Kempson for
general eirculation
t5. obv: A weaver at a loom-'Haverhill Manufactory' -!-d.
rev: A plough and shutde-e'Success ro the Plough
& Shuttle'
t6. obv: A dove and cornucopje-cPeaee and Plenty'
rev: A weaver at his loom-no legend
All these may be found in Pewscer's articles of 1883 and
Batty's Catalogue.
35
D. 19th-CENTURY COPPER TOKENS
The demand for money of small denomination seemed [Q be
insatiable and businessmen again took the old-established way out
by making their own tokens. The need for more eireulating media,
especially in the North, was clearly expressed and people had been
reduced to eounrermarking worn coppers ofGeorge I and George n, "
besides restamping worn tokens. Aeting more quickly than usual,
the government gave Matthew Boulton a contract for a new issue
of copper coin in 1806 and 1807-1,600 tons of it. There was to
he no other for fifteen years and in places the new issue caused a
glut.
The impetus given to industrial development by the war against
Napoleon made wage payments, especially when silver coins were
short too, a matter of the greatest difficulty. Thus, in spite of the
regal issue of 1806--7, tokens were still issued and needed; the scale
was smaller than that of the lare 18th centurv or the mid-17th
century, but there were many issues of tokens -and some of them
big ones. They date from 1811-17: that associated with Hull is
of 1812, and another at Beverley is of 1813. The government made
no difficulties until forgery and fraudulent issues (rhat is, ones rhat
had no one responsible for cashing them into coin of the realm)
began to appear. In IBJ7 the issue and the circulation of tokens was
forbidden by statute, but rhe new regal issue replacing them did
not appear until 1B21.
Variations in the price of copper produced a new complication.
Then as now, copper was in great demand for war industries. In
1797 it had been 105 a cwt. but ten years later ir was nearly double
that, and Boulton found it hard to get enough copper at economic
prices to make his pennies, halfpennies and farthings-albeit reduced
in size-in IB06-7. It was clearly profitable to melt the heavy 1797-9
pieces, which were intrinsically very nearly worth their denomina-
tion even when issued. From 1808, however, the price wenr down
and in 1811 was about 140 a cwt. Token issuers could put out
good pieces at this rate and they did so, maintaining the high stand-
ards of production of the 17B7-97 pieces.
The differences between the 1811-17 issues and those of the
1Bth century are:
1. The normal dcnominarion is the penny.
2. They seldom have edge inscriptions.
3. Thev are more associated with the Midlands and North; as
before, however. Birmingham was the manufacturing cenrre.
The 'classic' authority for this period is W. .1. Davis, in The 19rh-
Century Token Coinage, and reference numbers are givm from that
work. R. C. Bel! also deals with this phase in Copper Commercial
Coins, 1811-1819, providing a useful checkfor rhe distinction betuxen
GTT and priuaceor advertising pieces.
36
Bcver-ley
Davis 79* obv: Arms of Beverley in shield-in chief argent, 3d.
a beaver, three barry wavy azure
. THE BEVERLEY NEW FRIENDLY
SOCIETY ESTABLISHED 1789
rev; Inscription in three lines THOMAS
LECK
FATHER
THREE PENNY TOKEN 1813
edge: Milled
Wyon was the die-sinker tor this rare piece, which
BeU (pp. 102-3) classes amongst 'Tickets and
Private Tokens'. Otiver says that the New Friendly
Society was established in 090 and had 502 mem-
bers in 1829. Its rules, with revisions and append-
ices of 1822 and 1823, are in the East Riding Record
Office (QDCf2;' 1-4).
Hun
Davis 8lt obv: A view of the lead works with a pediment Ill,
over the centre of three entranees: a high
chimney stack to the left and four other
chimneys emitting smoke: in the foreground
two piles of metal. In exergue '1812'
rev: Inscription in four lines, the top one-ONE
PENNY-being on the curve: HULL
LEAD
WORKS
.. * ..
PAYABLE IN BANK OF ENGD OR
HULL NOTES BY I. K. PICARD
edge: Milled diagonally
82 Similar but rev. legend has last limb of second N Id.
in PENNY under the 0 in NOTES
83 Similar but more smoke from tall stack and less Id.
from smallest chimney
84 Similar but no smoke from smallest chimney; Id.
rev. legend has second N in PENNY under N in
NOTES
85 Similar but more smoke from stack and from Id.
chimney next to it. On the left, H at ground level
(probably for Halliday, the die-sinker)
37
, .
,.
I""
I.," I
'"".
""
86 Similar but stack emits a large volume of smoke Id.
and the centre archway has a keystone. On the left,
H on thewalI and on the ground. Rev. has last limb
of second N in PENNY under last limb of N in
NOTES
87 Similar but smoke from small chimney is upright Id.
and not touching stack as in others. No H on wall
or ground
Davis 88t obv: As in Davis 82 but with keystone over the Id.
centre arch
rev: Three line inscription . * ..
HULL
LEAD
WORKS
.. * ..
above ONE PENNY end below PAYABLE
BY I. K. PICARD
edge: Milled diagonally
89 Similar to Davis 88 but obv. has stack emitting Id.
much less smoke
"0"
,'",'
Davis 90t obv: Inscription in three lines HULL Id.
PENNY
1812
ONE POUND NOTE FOR 240 OF
THESE TOKENS
rev: Inscription in six lines PAYABLE BY
I. K. PI CARD
AT HIS
LEAD WORKS
IN
HlJLL
, OR AT 124 UPPER THAMES STREET
LONDON'*
edge: Milled diagonally
91 Similar to Davis 90 but with two errors on rev. Id, i
'J. R, Prichard' and '184 Upper Thames Street',
Hallidav of Birmingham was the die-sinker for all
the three major types, Nos, 81, 88 and 90, The last
is scarce and No, 91 very rare and never in circula-
tion: as Davis remarks, it Wasprepared first but the
mis-spelling ofthe name necessitated a new rev. die
Davis 95t obv: Crest of the Picard family-a lion sejant but
shown on the token as sejanr rampant resting
its dexter forepaw on an antique shield gules
38
REGAL CO I NA G E [
H E DON
EDWARD I
Silver penny
of HULL
W. 2 7
IT
w. 6
W.24
W. 28
W. 30
W.32
ill
W.31
W.46
W.48
obvonty
W.47
. WA g
W.51
W.50
v.
W.52
W.129
W.62
W.132
W.137
W.142
W.152
W.145
obv.only
IX
W. 155
W.156
W.160
W.216 A
rev. only
W.252
DALA
DAL.5
Hull bUildings
DAL.6
XII
obv.
for all
seven
e
"
..
.
W.55
W.134
W138
XIII
W.132A
W.135
.. .
'i:
....-..:. .
..
W140 W141
W.143
obv.only
W.145
rev. only
W.146
W.149
W.151
W.150
W.153
W.158
W .154
D.&H.17
"
D.&H.25
rev. only
D./l.H.24
rev. only
W.16 2
D.&H.22
rev. only
W.344
3
0bv
.only
D.88
rev. only