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copper or brass, occasionally, but very rarely in lead, and were of 
three denominations—penny, halfpenny and farthing, the latter 
by far the most numerous. The bulk of the Tokens are circular, 
but some are square, others octagonal, heart, or diamond shaped, 
and their execution, although frequently pleasing in character and 
style, is never exceptionally good. Under the Commonwealth 
some of the engravers who had been employed in the Mints fell 
into poverty, and from having designed the Regal coins and seals, 
were glad to find employment in producing the private Tokens, 
in some instances also designing them, such pieces being 
distinguished by the initial of the artist’s name appearing. In 
many instances it seems that local artists were employed in 
their production, and that others travelled throughout the country 
manufacturing tokens for the various places they passed through, 
but many of the Tokens were produced in London, and on 
these the names both of issuer and place are frequently spelt 
incorrectly. 
The Tokens usually bear on one side the name of the issuer, 
and on the other the place of issue; and on the fields some 
device having reference to the trade of the issuer on one side, and 
his initials, generally with that of his wife, on the other. The 
main idea and reason for their use was in many cases kept well 
in view, and some of the inscriptions are of interest, as— 
Remember the Poore—For the Poores Benefit—For Change and 
Charitie.— Many bear promises to exchange, as—Will be Changed 
—For Change—or as in one instance,—When you please I'll 
Change these—but expressed or not, such re-change was always 
: implied, and their issuers were morally bound when requested to 
_ change them for sterling money. There can be little doubt that 
in the vicinity of their place of issue they were freely used and 
commonly accepted as currency. 
Very noticeable is the frequent use of the Arms of the great 
Trading Companies of London upon them, this probably 
indicating the use of such Arms as trade signs by their issuers. 
