Collection of 17th Century tokens up for auction

A collection of more than 70 tokens from the 17th Century is set to go up for auction.

The tokens were issued by traders across Cornwall for use as currency at times when governments were not issuing small change.

The collection was amassed over 30 years by Mac McCarthy, who is from Cornwall, and has an estimate of £15,000 for the auction in London on 22 April.

The tokens will be offered in an auction of British Trade Tokens, Tickets and Passes at Noonans Mayfair.

The tokens were given to people who lived in places including: St Keverne, East Looe, Penzance, Liskeard, Lostwithiel, Padstow, Penryn, Truro, Camelford, Falmouth, Helston, Launceston, St Ives and Fowey.

Peter Preston-Morley, special projects director at Noonans, said: "Tokens were a currency substitute issued by private individuals, merchants and organisations when governments were not, for various reasons, issuing small change.

"They are mostly copper, although, during the Napoleonic wars, silver tokens were also made and circulated."

He added: "Books focusing on the tokens of certain counties have been published. However, no proper illustrated catalogue of the Cornish series has yet been published.

"Mr McCarthy is aiming to compile such a work.

"Tokens can provide the sort of fascinating, gritty local detail that other records miss when it comes to creating a clear picture of the past and this is one example."

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