Dug a very early colonial token or coin yesterday in trash pit. Need ID help please.

[Bill D. (VA)]

Got another invite from my good buddy Stan to drive up and join him in another grueling colonial pit dig at a site dating to about 1650. Had a lot of fun as usual and dug some nice artifacts. I have to clean all the stuff up today and will hopefully post everything later today or tomorrow. But I wanted to get this one find up this morning. Before I sifted the dirt back into the huge hole I was scanning the pile with my detector. The only positive hit I had all day doing this was what I thought was some kind of thin button. But after doing a bit of cleaning on it this morning I can see it's some kind of very cool looking early token or coin. I'm leaning toward token at this point, but was hoping someone might recognize this and be able to help with the ID. I can see the word "EDWARD" on one side, and the last King Edward reigned between 1547 and 1553. That would be awesome it it was that old. I dry cleaned it as best as I could, and do not plan to put water on it. I'm also hesitant to use some of the other products that I sometimes use on old coppers like mineral oil, blue ribbon coin cleaner, etc, although I may put some renaissance wax on it at some point. Hope someone can help with this.

 

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[gwdigger]

Great find. If you can make out the text after cleaning, please post. I can see George slaying dragon.

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Ifoundit69]

Awesome find bill !

 

[metalev4]

Looks like a nice one Bill. I hope you get an ID, doesn't look common.

 

[CRUSADER]

We need some letters, but its a Jetton I think.(circa 18th C, might be earlier) I have a thick book on these but need more clues...

 

[Bramblefind]

I think it might be this 1600s Tradesmen's token. Awesome find!

Edward Jarvis' The George Tavern Cheapside London Penny

Edward Jarvis' The George Tavern, Cheapside, (London) penny token undated. Obverse: St. George on horseback killing the dragon with legend: "* EDWARD IARVIS AT THE GEORG". Reverse: Elaborate monogram in ciphers of "Edward" in centre with legend: "* IN CHEAPSIDE MARKETT". Presumably Edward Jarvis was the landlord of the George or George and Dragon Tavern in Cheapside. Reasonable collectable condition with some digs, see photograph.​

Williamson London No: 585. Diameter 26mm. VG. £85.00​

 

[CRUSADER]

I think it might be this 1600s Tradesmen's token. Awesome find!

Edward Jarvis' The George Tavern Cheapside London Penny

Edward Jarvis' The George Tavern, Cheapside, (London) penny token undated. Obverse: St. George on horseback killing the dragon with legend: "* EDWARD IARVIS AT THE GEORG". Reverse: Elaborate monogram in ciphers of "Edward" in centre with legend: "* IN CHEAPSIDE MARKETT". Presumably Edward Jarvis was the landlord of the George or George and Dragon Tavern in Cheapside. Reasonable collectable condition with some digs, see photograph.​

Williamson London No: 585. Diameter 26mm. VG. £85.00​

Well done, I never even considered the 17th C Token option as it was too large (but perfect size for a jetton). 95% are Farthings & halfpennies. This Penny is indeed a rare find, I have none of this denomination, let alone this type!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I think it might be this 1600s Tradesmen's token. Awesome find!

Edward Jarvis' The George Tavern Cheapside London Penny

Edward Jarvis' The George Tavern, Cheapside, (London) penny token undated. Obverse: St. George on horseback killing the dragon with legend: "* EDWARD IARVIS AT THE GEORG". Reverse: Elaborate monogram in ciphers of "Edward" in centre with legend: "* IN CHEAPSIDE MARKETT". Presumably Edward Jarvis was the landlord of the George or George and Dragon Tavern in Cheapside. Reasonable collectable condition with some digs, see photograph.​

Williamson London No: 585. Diameter 26mm. VG. £85.00​

Wow - that's quite a catch Bramblefind! How in the world were you able to figure that one out?? Guess I need to try and narrow down the date a bit. But the 1600s is certainly believable as the site where it was found dates to around 1650. Thank you again for your expert assistance ..... Bill

 

[gwdigger]

Great job on the identification. I tried for 45 minutes to find it online but only found dozens and dozens of 17th century British merchant farthings instead.

 

[CRUSADER]

Wow - that's quite a catch Bramblefind! How in the world were you able to figure that one out?? Guess I need to try and narrow down the date a bit. But the 1600s is certainly believable as the site where it was found dates to around 1650. Thank you again for your expert assistance ..... Bill

Unless someone did the historical research, in term of family history these undated tokens will remain just that. Although London was the first to start producing these in the early 1650s & they were outlawed in about 1680, but I think finished production in the 70s.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Unless someone did the historical research, in term of family history these undated tokens will remain just that. Although London was the first to start producing these in the early 1650s & they were outlawed in about 1680, but I think finished production in the 70s.

Thanks Cru. That narrows the date down at least somewhat. Guess I'll go with 1650-80. Appreciate your assistance and expertise as usual.

 

[Iron Patch]

You should be able to get an ID, still lots of detail and even more if cleaned. And judging by the pic I would expect it to clean up great... and i would not seal it before doing that. That's looks to be the type of corrosion that comes off almost as easy as dirt.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks Cru. That narrows the date down at least somewhat. Guess I'll go with 1650-80. Appreciate your assistance and expertise as usual.

As I was talking from the top of my head, I checked the book on London Cheapside & can narrow it to 1650-75.

 

[mnixon]

very nice find indeed ... congrats

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

You should be able to get an ID, still lots of detail and even more if cleaned. And judging by the pic I would expect it to clean up great... and i would not seal it before doing that. That's looks to be the type of corrosion that comes off almost as easy as dirt.

How would you suggest cleaning it?

 

[Iron Patch]

How would you suggest cleaning it?

Peroxide soak with some brushing. When done, don't rinse it, just lay flat to dry and some of the patina should still be there. If at that point it looks more just like residue and would look better gone, I can tell you how to do that too. I'd be very surprised if that didn't clean up really well as it certainly has the look.

 

[dgaughan]

That is an awesome find Bill!

 

[John_Deere]

Great find, congrats and HH!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Here's a couple of pics showing a little better detail of what this penny token should look like.