Business Tokens like this were issued by business owners as payment to their workforce. They were redeemable in local stores, often owned by the same business owner. For example, mill owners used these tokens as workers’ wages, and the only way the workers could spend them was at shops owned by the owners.

The obverse features a hanging fleece to the left, taken from the town’s coat of arms. The legend reads “ROCHDALE 1792”.

On the reverse is a large-scale, detailed view of a seated weaver working at a loom. There is an edge inscription: “PAYABLE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF JOHN KERSHAW
Weight 12.93g

(ref:AHC054)

Conder tokens, also known as 18th-century provincial tokens, were a form of privately minted token coinage struck and used during the later part of the 18th century and the early part of the 19th century in England, Anglesey and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
The reverse features a strong message about how sunday baking is a form of slavery and has been stopped by order of parliament!

Weight 9.0g

(ref:AHC081)

George III Spade Gambling Tokens.  These were used as tokens to gamble since using coinage was deemed illegal.  They are dated 1701, even though they were minted during George III's reign (He wasn’t born in 1701!).  The current theory is that this was meant to signify better times, and since they were not used as legal tender, this was acceptable.  The term 'Spade'refers to the fact the shield on the reverse looks like the spade suit in a deck of cards.

Weight: 1.5g

(ref:AHC036)

This halfpenny token from 1794 celebrates the acquittal on charges of high treason of John Horne Tooke. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, Tooke was a radical and was prosecuted for treason at a time when the perceived excesses of French Republicans prompted action against those seen as their sympathisers in Britain.

Tooke was arrested on 16th May 1794 and - with huge symbolism - detained at the Tower of London. But once the case came to trial, a hearing lasting six days, the jury took just eight minutes to clear him.

The token also celebrates the achievements of Thomas Erskine and Vicary Gibbs, the lawyers who secured Tooke's acquittal and also helped to clear others charged with treason at about this time, including Thomas Hardy and John Thelwall. After this series of courtroom setbacks, Pitt the Younger's government stepped back from its policy of repression of political radicals

This token - which is about the size of a two-pence piece - was produced as an expression of political support for Tooke and his ilk, as you can see from the inscription. Privately minted ha'penny tokens were common at this time because of an acute shortage of low denomination coins - though I rather doubt that these particular tokens were used to make routine purchases.

Tooke, by the way, later became the MP for the most notorious of the unreformed 'rotten boroughs', Old Sarum - while Erskine briefly held the post of Lord Chancellor and Gibbs (nicknamed 'Vinegar' Gibbs for his caustic humour) became an MP and Solicitor General. 

(ref:AHC075)

The obverse features a front view of the infamous Newgate Prison, with a central flat tower and the date “1795” below, flanked by sprigs. The legend reads: “NEWGATE”. Notably, this variety of the token depicts a flat-roofed version of Newgate Prison. The token has a diagonally milled edge.

The reverse bears a legend on eight lines: “PAYABLE AT THE RESIDENCE OF MESSRS SYMONDS WINTERBOTHAM RIDGWAY & HOLT”

The irony of this token is the fact that all the “issuers” were currently prisoners residing in Newgate Prison. They had been found guilty of seditious libel.  Notably, one of the issuers, Ridgeway, was the publisher of Thomas Paine’s influential work, “Rights of Man.”

This historical token provides a glimpse into the radical political climate of its time and the role of Newgate Prison in shaping public discourse. Collectors value it for its unique context and design. 

Weight 8.25g

(ref:AHC114)

Dated 14 February 1797 (struck circa 1805). ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY, uniformed bust left.
Weight 2.21g

(ref:AHC052)

Workhouse tokens were a way of paying the poor who ended up in the workhouse when they were destitute. They were specially minted for the poor to spend in local shops. Shopkeepers would later exchange the tokens at the workhouse for real money.

The hole was most likely punched in the token to wear around the neck so as not to lose it.

Weight:4.48g

(ref:AHC014)

These tokens were issued to address the shortage of official coinage and were widely used in trade. The obverse side features clasped hands with the inscription “UNION COPPER COMPANY · BIRMINGHAM · 1812,” symbolizing unity and cooperation. The reverse side reads “ONE PENNY TOKEN PAYABLE FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION,” indicating its use as a substitute for official currency.

The tokens were accepted in various transactions and were particularly useful for public accommodations, such as inns and taverns, where small change was often needed. They are now valued by collectors for their historical significance and the insight they provide into the economic conditions of the time.

Weight 26.08g

(ref:AHC146)

This token is notable for its inscription referencing Luke Chapter XX, Verse XXV from the Bible: “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.” This phrase was used as a form of tax protest, highlighting the discontent with taxation policies at the time.

The obverse typically shows a laureate portrait of King George III, while the reverse features a crowned harp, symbolizing Ireland. These tokens were often used in trade.
Weight 15.48g
(Ref:AHC160)

The copper token was struck in Kingston-Upon-Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It commemorates a naval campaign around the Iberian Peninsula by a British expeditionary force under Arthur Wellesley, later known as the Duke of Wellington.
Weight 8.36 grams.

(ref:AHC065)

The 1897 Victoria Diamond Jubilee Silver Medal is a historic commemorative piece struck by the Royal Mint to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The designer was George William de Saulles

Weight 9.67g

(ref:AHC080)

The 1851 Great Exhibition Medal was issued to commemorate the Great Exhibition of 1851, a landmark event held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London.
The obverse features a bare-headed profile bust of Prince Albert (consort of Queen Victoria) looking right. The reverse depicts the Crystal Palace during the exhibition, llisting the structure’s dimensions and value.

(ref:AHC125)

Victorian school tokens were small brass tokens used as part of a reward system in schools during the Victorian era. These tokens were given to students as a form of positive reinforcement for good behavior, academic achievements, or other commendable actions.

Once a student had collected enough tokens, they could redeem them for rewards. These rewards could range from small prizes or special privileges within the school.  

These tokens and the points system helped to motivate students, promote positive behavior, and create a sense of achievement and community within the school.

Weight 1.23g
(ref:AHC149)

Peter Kempson & James Kindon’s brass calendar medal for the year 1807 is a notable piece. Peter Kempson produced single-year calendar medals from 1796 to 1826. He worked independently as P. Kempson (1796-1801), in partnership with James Kindon as Kempson & Kindon (1802-1810), with his son as P. Kempson & Son (1810-1824), and finally as Kempson & Co (1824-1825).
A Birmingham button manufacturer, Kempson also created a wide range of tokens for collectors. The year 1807 is significant as it marks the passing of “An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade” in Parliament. Interestingly, the British Museum does not have an example of this medal for 1807, as noted in Ackerman’s “Calendar Medals in the British Museum,” published in The Medal, Autumn 2004.

Weight 18.11g
(ref:AHC148)

The Horation Nelson’s HMS Foudroyant copper medal is a 37mm coin struck in 1897 to commemorate Admiral Lord Nelson and his flagship, HMS Foudroyant.

The obverse features Admiral Lord Nelson’s bust with the inscription “HORATIO, VISCOUNT NELSON” and his birth and death dates.

The reverse depicts HMS Foudroyant at anchor without rigging. The legend reads “FOUDROYANT,” Lord Nelson’s flagship. Below that: “MEDAL STRUCK FROM COPPER OF VESSEL AFTER BREAKING UP.” 

The copper used for this medal came from the wreck of HMS Foudroyant, which met its end off the coast of Blackpool on June 16th, 1897. The ship was originally built in Plymouth in 1798 and served as Nelson’s flagship during his command.

Weight 28.25g
(ref:AHC193)

The 1893 Marriage Medal commemorating the union of the Duke of York (who later became King George V) and Princess Mary (May) of Teck is a white metal medallion measuring approximately 32.48mm. The obverse features draped busts of the Duke and Princess Mary, facing each other within ornate . White metal is a term used for any alloy that is light-colored and typically includes tin, lead, zinc, and other metals.
Weight 17.8g

(ref:AHC038)

On 7th May, 1915 a German u-Boat torpedoed the liner Lusitania as it travelled from New York to Liverpool, killing over 1,200 people.  The Germans felt they had given the allies adequate warning and even had a medal commissioned to 'celebrate' the event, but the rest of the world were appalled.  The British felt the medal was a perfect propaganda tool to exploit the brutality of the enemy with the "cold blooded murder" of innocent citizens, and had 250,000 produced to be sold for the ally war effort.   This extraordinary piece of history is the  British medal produced in 1915 to gain support for the war effort.

Weight 64.2g

(ref:AHC037)

The Festival of Britain was a national event held in 1951 to lift the spirits of the British people after the end of World War II.
To commemorate this occasion, the Royal Mint issued a special proof crown coin (five shillings).

The reverse features Benedetto Pistrucci’s iconic design of St. George slaying the dragon. The Edge bears the date 1851-1951 in Roman numerals and the Latin inscription CIVIUM INDUSTRIA FLORET CIVITAS (“By the industry of its people, the State flourishes”).

Approximately 1,983,500 were minted. Weight 28.28g

(ref:AHC107)

The 1953 Coronation Souvenir Medallion was issued by Butlins Beavers to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The lead based alloy medal (just under 39 mm diameter) has the Queen's portrait on the front and details of the club and Coronation on the reverse.

Medal Weight 21.73

(ref:AHC134)

The 1972 Wedding Anniversary Crown is a commemorative coin issued to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

The obverse of the coin features the second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, where she wears the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland diamond tiara, a wedding gift. The reverse design includes the letters “EP” for Elizabeth and Philip, with a background of foliage and a figure of Eros, symbolizing love.

The coin was the first British coin to have a face value of 25 pence, as previous crowns had been Five Shillings in value. The absence of an inscription denoting the face value on the 1972 crown causes some confusion today

Weight 28.2g

(ref:AHC111)

The 1972 Wedding Anniversary Crown is a commemorative coin issued to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

The obverse of the coin features the second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, where she wears the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland diamond tiara, a wedding gift. The reverse design includes the letters “EP” for Elizabeth and Philip, with a background of foliage and a figure of Eros, symbolizing love.

The coin was the first British coin to have a face value of 25 pence, as previous crowns had been Five Shillings in value. The absence of an inscription denoting the face value on the 1972 crown causes some confusion today

Weight 28.2g 

(ref:AHC112)

A 9ct gold Margaret Thatcher 'Britain's First Lady Prime Minister' commemorative Coin Token, dated 1979, issued by the Pobjoy Mint, limited edition of 10,000, Sovereign size. 
Weight 5.1g
(ref:AHC153)

The Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900–1979), a distinguished British statesman and naval officer, notably served as the final Viceroy of India. He played a pivotal role in the upbringing of Prince Philip and was a significant influence on King Charles III during his formative years. His life was cut short in a tragic event on August 27, 1979, when he fell victim to an assassination in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland, amidst the Northern Ireland Troubles. In honor of his remarkable service and historical impact, a commemorative medal has been issued.

While the medal itself is a proof and holds great value, it does present a minor imperfection—a small dent adjacent to the portrait, noticeable under certain lighting conditions. The pricing has been adjusted to account for this flaw, offering a fair reflection of its condition.

Weight 33.56g

(ref:AHC106)

This is a "fantasy Crown" minted in c.2006 for collecters since there was no crown featuring George and the Dragon minted in his lifetime.  It has no historical value whatsoever but is a fun item to own!  The metal is a golden alloy. Please do NOT mistake this for a valuable golden coin as it isnt - however, it DOES look impressive!  The price we are selling it at will just about cover the postage!

Weight:23.73g

(ref:AHC027)

Sealed box set in card envelope box contining proof coinage of britain and Northern Ireland for 1972

(ref:AHC033)

Sealed box set in card envelope box containing proof coinage of britain and Northern Ireland for 1982

(ref:AHC034)

This gold-plated bar commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s tragic sinking. Known as “The Unsinkable Titanic” of the White Star Line, she was on her maiden voyage when disaster struck. The obverse features an image of the ship, while the reverse bears the inscription “Tragedy of the Titanic In Memory of Titanic Victims.” This Proof bar, presented in a capsule, serves as a poignant reminder of the centennial of this historic event.

Weight 35.68g

(ref:AHC152)