8] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



UTTOXETER. 



This town concludes our brief view of the Staffordshire Coinage, 

 and though it be the last specimen of it in order, is yet far from 

 being the least curious and interesting. It was struck by a person 

 of the name of William Wakelin, and is a memorable proof of 

 his loyalty to his Sovereign. It bears on the obverse " Will. 

 Wakelin, 1663," and in the centre, " his Halfpenny." Minima rk, 

 a Rose. The reverse is inscribed " Vive Le Roi in Uttoxetar," 

 with a Crown in the centre, and a Rose for the minlmark. 



We cannot conclude this department of our work, without ob- 

 serving, that no doubt can be entertained but many other towns, 

 villages, and tradesmen, within the limits of Staffordshire, issued 

 their respective monies, when such monies were allowed by the au- 

 thority of Government to be in circulation. But if our catalogue 

 of such as we have been able to discover, should appear scanty and 

 defective, let it be remembered that all such Coinages, from being 

 local, were extremely limited in their circulation, and consequently 

 are not easily met with, but upon, or near, the places of their re- 

 spective mintage. Many of these coins, unknown to collectors, 

 are doubtless in the possession of individuals resident in, or near 

 the place in which they were struck ; but from the circumstances 

 of their being in the hands of those who are unskilled in the science 

 of Coins and Medals, and having never found their way to the in- 

 spection of the connoisseur, remain yet unpublished. 



We think it not improper, in conclusion, to give a short account 

 of the several discoveries of ancient coins, which have at various 

 times been made in Staffordshire, which shall be extracted from a 

 communicative letter of Mr. Shaw, the late ingenious historian of 

 this county, published in the Gent. Mag. for Dec. 1796, p. 983. 



" At Callingwood, (says Mr. S.) on the north side of Needwood 

 Forest, were found in 1793 upwards of thirty Roman Gold Coins of 

 ftve Emperors, most of them very perfect and beautiful, eight of 

 which are now in my possession. In 1794, was also found at Row- 

 lev Regis, an earthen globe containing about 1200 similar Coins 

 in silver, which, when altogether, formed a complete series of the 

 Roman Emperors ; but they were unfortunately soon dispersed at 

 a low price about the country, except about three hundred, which 

 are in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Cartwright, at Dudley. In 

 1795, was likewise found at Oultori, near Stone, a parcel of near 

 four thousand silver Coins> all Saxon, except some of W T illiam the 

 Conqueror ; forty of which> of the different sorts, in the highest 

 preservation, are in my possession." 



