ch. xxvi 533 



CHAPTER XXVI 



COACHING MEDALS OR TOKENS. 



Two medals or tokens are mentioned- in the 

 Coaching books ; photographic reproductions of 

 them are here given. 



The first (Fig. 179, Plate XXXV.), known as the 

 'mail-coach halfpenny,' was struck soon after the 

 introduction of the mail-coaches. 



It has upon the face a mail-coach, with coachman 

 and guard, and four horses galloping ; above, ' mail 



COACH HALFPENNY,' below 'TO TRADE EXPEDITION 

 & TO PROPERTY PROTECTION. PAYABLE IN LONDON.' 



On the reverse, ' to j. palmer esq. this is inscribed 



AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR BENEFITS REC'd FROM 

 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MAIL COACHES,' with 3. wreath 



of palm leaves and the letters QJ , c/\ 



The second (Fig. 180) is a copper halfpenny 

 struck by William Waterhouse, a coaching pro- 

 prietor, whose headquarters were, about 172 2-1 800,. 

 at the Swan with Two Necks, * Lad Lane, London. 



It has, upon the face, a swan with two necks 

 turned in opposite directions ; above, ' payable at 



THE MAIL COACH OFFICE,' below, ' LAD LANE LONDON 



* It is the custom for the owners of swans to mark them by 

 one or more ' nicks' on their beaks ; the name of the tavern is no 

 doubt a corruption of ' The Swan with two nicks.' 



