FOUR ENGLISH CLOCK TRADE TOKENS

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FOUR ENGLISH CLOCK TRADE TOKENS
Joseph Knibb Alex Morton Michael Bird H. Ward

the first signed in script Joseph Knibb Clockmaker in Oxon within a milled border, the alternate side centered with a clock hand and the initials JK within a Roman chapter ring with a milled border, 16mm. diam.; the second signed Alex: Morton Armagh 1736 within a dotted border, the alternate side signed I promise to pay the bearer three pence, 17mm. diam.; the third signed Michael Bird. his half penny centred with a cockerel, the alternate side signed Watchmaker. Oxford. centred with M*B 1668, 20mm. diam.; the fourth signed Payable by H. Ward Blandford and centred by three lions within a buckle reserve, the alternate side stamped One shilling token for public accommodation. 1811, 25mm. diam. (4)

Lot Essay

Trade tokens were legally struck in order to combat the acute shortage of low-value coinage. Shopkeepers had the tokens privately struck and they were very often only used to purchase other goods in that particular shop. The Knibb token is a particularly rare find and the Oxford address indicates that it has to have been used before 1670 after which he had moved to London.

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