The Royal African Token/Pendant

[Digging_NewEngland]

Hello All,

I have found A Pendant/Token of some sort, I believe to be copper with a what appears to be a gold gilt. Approximately an inch and a half in height, and about an inch in width. Appears to be the same thickness of a 1778 Half Reale found in the same general area. One side has an Elephant with intricate carvings and lines. The other side has " The Royal African" in a semi circle at the top, around the hole. In the middle, there is what looks like a tree. Along the bottom, very faintly, there is an abbreviation for number. "No" the "o" is small and struck higher and smaller than the N. After that, "21784"

The item was found in a non-trashy site in the woods.

Assuming it's not a fantasy piece, there are two possible attributions:

1) The Royal African Company, a 17th-18th century royally chartered company which held monopoly on British trade to West Africa, specializing in gold and slaves.

2) The Royal African Corps, a unit in the British Army, officially established on April 15, 1804. The original Royal African Corps (aka Fraser's Corps of Infantry) was formed in August 1800 under Colonel John Fraser, and was raised for the defense of the Island of Goree, Senega. The regiment was one of several penal battalions composed primarily of deserters and condemned men, with some additional black soldiers being attached to the unit.

The designs do not appear to closely resemble those of the official arms or seal of the Royal African Company. Both bear an elephant, but the one on the seal has a castle (or castellated howdah) on its back.

So far I've been unable to find any insignia, arms, or other emblems of the Royal African Corps.

I greatly welcome any input on what this item may be.

Thank you very much in advance,

Dave

 

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[DCMatt]

Wow. This is an awesome dig. I'm going to guess it is related to "The Royal African Company" and at the bottom says "No 2" "1784".

The style seems consistent with the mid to late 18th C and it seems the RAC had a presence in North America at that time.

What it is or how it was used, I have no idea - yet. But if you'll give us more info on where it was found, I'll dig in a little more.

It could turn out to be a very important piece of local history.

 

[Digging_NewEngland]

DCMatt, thanks for your reply.

You had an interesting theory: (No. 2) 1784. I hadn't thought of that. I went with that for a little but found that the Royal African Company dissolved in 1750-52. But maybe there's something else I'm missing? To answer your question, it was found in Massachusetts.

 

[DCMatt]

Royal African Company dissolved in 1750-52.

I'm finding conflicting info about the company. It seems they were in and out of business throughout the 18th C.

 

[DCMatt]

Well, I can't find anything but some vague references to the RAC of England being in business under that name after 1752 when it became "The Company of Merchants Trading to Africa." So I'll move on from it.

I will stand by my "No 2" "1784" theory. This piece is hand engraved. I doubt there were many of them made. If it had gold gilt, you would expect it to be carried by someone of means.

So the question remains... What was "The Royal African"? A society (it was but not until 1901)? A tavern/ordinary? A coffee house? A new American Company?

 

[unclemac]

in any case it has a "one-off" sort of look to it...as though someone made just that one.

 

[cgdigger]

I have no idea, but it is really cool. Congrats on a very interesting find, and I hope you solve the mystery.

 

[Digging_NewEngland]

Thanks guys. An interesting piece for sure. I'm going back to the spot this weekend. Let's see if anything else turns up.