Token
£220.00
Vintage Covent Garden beer and tavern tokens often refer to 17th century farthings issued by tavern keepers in the area - they represented the value of a pint or half-pint of beer or spirits, serving as a promotional tool and loyalty system to encourage return custom. After King Charles II granted a market license in 1670, it grew into London's primary wholesale fruit, vegetable, and flower market for over 300 years before moving to Nine Elms in 1974
Granted due to a shortage of small official coinage, taverns would dispense small copper or alloy tokens stamped with their location. Wholesalers at the market issued stamped metal tokens as receipts or deposit tallies for crates, baskets, and containers
Porters, merchants, and traders used these high-denomination brass tally tokens (ranging from 1 shilling up to 20 shillings) for business transactions within the market hub
This place holds a precious meaning from the roots of my career from 45 years ago - My degree show from Middlesex Polytechnic (as it was then) showed in the new Seven Dials Gallery, Covent Garden, a newly renovated from a fruit and veg warehouse. This show attracted all the buyers and I obtained my very first order from Liberty of London - and went on to sell through Liberty for 18 years!
Middlesex Polytechnic Degree Show: Held July 7–12, 1980, featuring B.A. Honours work in silversmithing and jewellery
Cast from an actual token I bought recently, this unique necklace brings you your very own replica!
Token - 35mm diameter
Medium weight Chain - 18"
