By J. S. UDAL, P.R. Hist. Soc. 

 (of the Inner Temple). 



EFORE I deal more specifically with the tokens of 

 this particular county, I should like to say a few 

 general words as to the introduction of these 

 tokens into the several counties, and to the 

 circumstances which led to their issue. This 

 subject has been well treated of in Snelling's 

 View of the Copper Coinage of England, and Boyne's Tokens of 

 the Seventeenth Century; whilst some very useful and instructive 

 remarks on the general history of tokens are contained in the 

 introduction to the third and last edition of Hutchins's History of 

 Dorset. From these authorities I quote at considerable length in 

 making the following remarks upon the general history of the 

 subject. 



The small coinage of England from the earliest times was of 

 silver, and was coined as low in value as a penny, three farthings, 

 half-penny, and farthing. They began to be coined in the time of 

 Edward I. and continued to be minted in this manner, the half, 

 penny existing down to the time of Charles II. These were all in 

 common use ; but as every rise in the denomination of our money 

 lessened the weight of these pieces, they became, from their small 

 size and weight extremely inconvenient and easily lost. 



