THE

Esser Tokens.

BY THOMAS FORSTER.

'HE requirements of Society frequently call for some extra effort to meet certain contingencies which have arisen-such a need arose in the seventeenth century. It was met by the issue of a coinage known as XVII. century tokens, of which for England, Wales, and Ireland there are over 12,000. Only one is known for Scotland, that being a farthing for Dunbar, dated 1668. These tokens bear a representative value; mostly farthing and halfpenny, with a small number as a penny, their actual value as metal being far below the coin intended to be substituted. To trace their origin we must go back at least a hundred years. In early times barter formed the means of exchange, then coins were gradually introduced; even as late as the time of the Normans we find a silver penny the commonest small coin, but as the years passed by, new wants arose with the advancing civilisation of the people. The reign of Elizabeth may be con

sidered as our starting point. She issued halfpence and farthings of silver, and contemplated a series in copper. James the First, however, granted a patent to Lord Harrington for the issue of farthings, which are now commonly known as Harringtons, but in the year 1648 commence those under our present notice, and continue up to 1679. They were issued by private traders and corporations upon the understanding that the issuer would at any time take them back and give their representative value in current coin. According to Mr. Williamson's recent work, Essex takes the fourth place in the number of tokens issued after passing Middlesex and Surrey, London and Southwark coming within those counties respectively-Kent has 595, Yorkshire 445, Devonshire 368, and Essex 359. Essex did not issue any town pieces; eighty-five places in the county are represented by tokens, and Colchester takes the lead with 71. They mostly bear the name of the issuer, and of the place and county, the device in the centre having reference to the trade or the company to which the trader belonged, some few have family arms, and some have merchants' marks. The tokens are of extreme interest and with Parish Registers give

the names of the then population. Many issuers are still represented in the districts. In the Colchester series we find several who served as Mayors : Andrew Formantel in 1667, Henry Lambe in 1669, Nathaniell Lawrence in 1672-79 and 1683, William Moore in 1663-64-70-81 and 1694. The most interesting one in the Colchester series was issued by Alex. Satterthwaite in 1668, and bears the arms of the town.

The Civil Wars which commenced in the reign of Charles I. caused a great stoppage to trade, money was scarce, and the country in a low condition. Charles I. was judicially murdered in 1648, the year that saw the first issue of these tokens. Traders of their own accord coined them, and in consequence of their felt want they were allowed to continue for thirty-one years.

After Colchester, Chelmsford follows with twenty-three. Some places have only one, as Henham, which is extremely rare, it was issued by Robert Halls in 1667. Maldon has four, and three of those bear the arms of the Grocers' Company, the other, St. George and the Dragon.

Manewden has only one which bears the arms of the Barber Surgeons. The same company is also represented on one of those for Manningtree.

At Coggeshall, one out of the thirteen is by Beniamin Samson, which bears a punning device. Samson standing with a robe over his shoulder and loins, holding a jawbone in one hand. Several for Colchester are by baymakers, that town being noted for baize. West Ham issues one with the royal arms.

The entire series for the country are similar in style, and were until quite recently spoken of with contempt. Now, however, through the publication of Boyne's voluminous work, and later still of its re-issue with addition by Williamson, they have taken their proper place, and are now regarded not because of their actual value, but from the light they cast upon a dark page of history. of history. The Civil War caused confusion in the land, Church Registers were badly kept, and in many cases not kept at all, thus these tokens supply what would be almost a blank. With the restoration of royalty and the extension of a coinage of small value their use passed away. They were eventually proscribed by Parliament.

One hundred years later another crisis appears. The French Revolution, followed by the wars of Napoleon, caused great depression in trade. As a consequence money was scarce, and tradesmen

and others feeling the want, again issued tokens. This time, however, they were of the same size and value as the current coin of the realm. They were larger and thicker, mostly having an inscription round the edge as well as on the obverse and reverse. The issues for Essex are but few. The copper ones are for Braintree, one by W. Goldsmith in 1794-one for Chelmsford, bearing on its obverse the front view of the Shire Hall. The chief feature respecting this hall is that it was erected for a less sum than estimated by the builder, and what is more remarkable the acceptors of his tender actually gave him a testimonial in consequence.

Colchester has two varieties of one token. Both bear on the obverse the castle, but from different dies the other side has a loom, in reference to the baize trade, which was commenced here through the settlement of the Dutch refugees. They had their own laws, and were an independent body in the town. St. Giles's Church was set apart for them, they also for a time used All Saints' Church. Later on they had chapel and minister's house of their own in Head Street, at the corner of Church Street North; the building bore the date 1677. It was subsequently