© radrick007 (CC BY-NC-SA)
© radrick007 (CC BY-NC-SA)
Farthing - Essex Chipping Ongar / J. Archer
1657 year| Copper | 0.58 g | 15 mm |
| Issuer | England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1657 |
| Value | 1 Farthing (1⁄960) |
| Currency | English Trade Tokens (1648-72) |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 0.58 g |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | 1674 |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#158322 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Merchant's initials within twisted wire inner circle, legend and date around.
mm. a mullet
Lettering:
CHIPPINONGAR · 57 ·
· A ·
I · M
·
Translation: Chipping Ongar
Edge
Plain
Comment
There were numerous seventeenth century trade tokens issued in Essex with nearly three quarters of them being farthings. There were no town-pieces, all the tokens being produced by merchants and there is just a single type known for the small town of Chipping Ongar.Catalogues: M. Dickinson 73.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the A Token Farthing - Essex (Chipping Ongar / J. Archer) 1657 from England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) made of Copper weighing 0.58 g is that it was issued during a time of great economic turmoil in England, specifically during the Commonwealth period (1649-1660) when the government was struggling to finance its military campaigns and the production of coins was limited. As a result, many private token issuers, such as J. Archer, emerged to fill the gap in the market and provide a means of exchange for the local population. This coin is a rare surviving example of one of these private tokens, providing a unique insight into the economic and social history of 17th century England.
