Pennies from Devon

On October 5th, Baldwins Auctions are hosting a sale featuring one of the largest collections of 17th century tokens from Devon, The Patrick Deane Collection. 

In the 1640s, 50s, 60s and early 70s, due to the Civil War, there was no small copper change in circulation. This caused tremendous problems for the ordinary folk throughout the land who needed the smaller denominations for everyday necessities such as buying food and drink. Without small change available shopkeepers hit upon the idea of issuing their own copper coins to keep the local economy going. They knew that they couldn't copy the official regal coinage - because that would be considered counterfeiting which was punishable by hanging! - so, they designed and made their own ‘token’ coinage. In fact for over forty years until the early 1670's  the only copper change a local would have had in their pocket were these tradesmen’s tokens. 

Because a lot of their clientele were illiterate these private tokens are pictorial so that the recipient would know where they could cash it in – for example, Alice Moore innkeeper of the Bell at Chulmleigh had a Bell on her halfpenny of 1668 (Lot6b), Henry Hopping a carrier in Collumpton had a packhorse on his 1666 halfpenny (Lot7b), and Edmond Corbyn a hatter in Totnes had a feathered cavalier’s hat on his 1668 halfpenny (Lot 46b)etc etc 

Many town authorities had tokens issued so that the poor would be facilitated and places like Ashburton, Mortonhampstead and Dartmouth issued halfpennies and farthings with the municipal arms on them. 

Over forty locations are represented in this collection of Devon tokens - from the larger towns such as Exeter, Plymouth and Tavistock to smaller locations such as Bovey Tracey, Newton Bushell and Salcombe. In some cases there are only one or two known examples of these tokens in existence making them excessively rare and quite desirable. They are quaint and esoteric but more importantly give a tremendous insight into the everyday life of mid 17th. century Devon towns and villages 

Never before has such a large and important collection of Devon 17th century tokens been featured in an Auction sale. If you would like any further information on the collection, please contact Richard Gladdle at A H Baldwins on 020 7930 6879 or email richard@baldwin.co.uk