78 



Wiltshire Tradesman's Tokens. 



the issuer. Many merchant families adopted for armorial bearings 

 their trade-marks in a shield. They are partially used by shipping 

 merchants at the present day. 



IV. ' Taverns and Shop Signs. The earliest Tokens having been 

 issued by publicans, they have, on that account, been frequently 

 called Tavern Tokens. The usual device is the sign of the Inn. 

 The oldest were often of a religious character, as the Holy Lamb, 

 the Salutation of the Virgin (which had degenerated at that period 

 into two men saluting each other), the cross keys, &c. 



V. Articles of Dress sold by the issuers ; as hats, caps, neck- 

 whisks, piccadillies, leggings, &c. 



VI. Implements of Trade, Agriculture, and War ; as hammers, 

 croppers' shears, teazle-brushes, scissors, windmills, swords, &c. 



VII. Animals : as oxen, antelopes, cranes, peacocks, lobsters, &c. 



VIII. Articles of domestic use : as blackjacks, tankards, grid- 

 irons, cleavers, tennis bat and ball, &c. 



IX. Heraldic signs : as a phoenix, griffin, portcullis, Catharine- 

 wheel, three legs of Man, &c. 



X. Conveyances : as coaches, waggons and packhorses, fishing 

 boats. 



XI. Views of Public edifices : as churches, castles, bridges. 

 These are mostly unlike the structures represented. 



XII. Punning Devices on the issuer's name, after the manner 

 of canting heraldry. As examples, there are Bush (a thornbush), 

 Cox (two cocks), Harbottle (a bottle on a hare), Samson (Samson 

 standing), Yate (a gate, still pronounced yate in the North), &c. 



The earliest dates are 1648, 1649 and 1650 ; but Tokens of these 

 years are scarce. After 1650, until 1660, they are more plentiful : 

 and nearly the whole of them are farthings : half-pennies are few 

 in number, and there are no pennies. Those of a date subse- 

 quent to the Restoration of Charles II. are the most abundant ; 

 half-pennies are very common among them ; and there is a good 

 number of pennies. The years 1665, 1666, 1667, 1668 and 1669 

 are the most prolific, in particular 1666 (the year of the great Fire 

 of London) ; whilst in 1670, 1671, and 1672 they again became 

 scarce ; of the latter year there are very few. 



