Token - George III Half Guinea 'Spade' Gaming Token
1788 year| Brass | - | 20.4 mm |
| Location | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Utility items › Counter tokens |
| Year | 1788 |
| Composition | Brass |
| Diameter | 20.4 mm |
| Thickness | 0.9 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-11-14 |
| Numista | N#407439 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 93% |
Reverse
Coat of Arms
Script: Latin
Lettering:
IN MEMORY OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS
· 1788 ·
Edge
Reeded
Comment
A gaming token of minimal value. Typically they are imitations or fractions of the most valuable coins in circulation, but on the whole, were not produced to deceive the public into thinking they were actual spade guineas or half guineas. Often holed for a watch chain, they were frequently given to theatre audiences as mementoes during the Georgian and even into the early Victorian period (the date is unlikely to reflect the year of manufacture). There are numerous examples with a variety of dates and designs, often with slightly different detail or wording. This example has bars around the headband of the crown under the Fleur de Lis, whereas other examples may have spots or diamond shapes to represent a crown's jewels.
