A Private Collection of 17th, 18th and 19th Century British Trade Tokens:

Local businesses used trade tokens as currency when there became a shortage of money in the late 17th and 18th centuries. There seem to be specific dates when tokens seemed to be prolific. An example of this is 1666, after the Great Fire of London, when businesses needed to mint their own money in order to keep trading during the massive rebuild which was taking place in London following the destruction. Many 17th Century tokens bear this date. Many tokens have engraved upon them portraits of entrepreneurs, local buildings such as factories, town halls, workhouses, shops and churches and usually carry a date, providing a lasting record of their time.

As trade tokens became more of the norm in the middle to late 18th century they also developed a following that has continued to this day. Private companies began minting tokens for collectors and their use and value changed from the denomination of the token to its value to an individual as a Collectible.

Over 500 of these tokens, many in Extremely Fine condition, will appear in our 15th September 2022 Coins, Antique & Collectibles Auction.