Tower Hamlets Numismatics

This site is intended both to show the range of numismatic items from the area and also to provide detailed listings for those who require more information. I will be gradually filling in the site, so come back regularly.

Definitions

Tower Hamlets: The London Borough of Tower Hamlets was created in 1965 by the merger of the former boroughs of Bethnal Green, Poplar and Stepney.

Numismatics: The collection and study of money (and coins in particular)


National Coinage

For nearly 700 years the majority of the coins struck for use in England, then the UK, and eventually the Empire, were manufactured within the current boundaries of Tower Hamlets. From 1279 until 1816 within the walls of the Tower of London and from 1816 until 1975 at the new Royal Mint in Royal Mint Street (formerly Rosemary Lane), Tower Hill.                                 

                                                                                                        

Tokens :

17^th century

In the years preceding the English Civil war the demand for small change was met by the Lennox and Rose farthings, issued under royal license. When these licenses lapsed, many thousands of local issuers filled the gap. Starting in 1647 they were produced until 1672 in England (later in Ireland). At first the only denomination was one farthing, but later half pennies and even pennies were produced. The great majority would appear to have been made at the Tower of London from dies by engravers such as David Ramage

We know of more than 600 tokens for use in the area (list of tokens).  Issuers including publicans, brewers and many different tradesmen. They identify the issuer (sometimes only initials) and often his wife. There are also 20 issued by women in their own right (list of female issuers). The issuers' locations included heavily populated areas such as Whitechapel and Wapping, expanding areas, such as Spitalfields and Mile End and also more rural villages such as Poplar and Bow (list of token issuing locations). 

 

18^th century  

The regal copper coinage commenced in 1672 but it was only issued grudgingly and was never plentiful. In the reign of George II the copper series stopped in 1754 and light-weight forgeries soon circulated in large numbers to swell the inadequate supply of good coins. Regal coppers were not struck again until 1770 and they again stopped in 1775, so forgeries were made in even larger numbers. It is, therefore, small wonder that many exasperated trades people once again demonstrated their independence and initiative by issuing small change of their own—the eighteenth century tokens. London, in fact, was better supplied with coppers than the Provinces, as what little there was, tended to gravitate to the breweries, of which there were many in London. For this reason, the only tokens with a Tower Hamlets connection were made for collectors or for advertising, apart from a very rare early issue for a brew house in Goodmans Fields (list of 18th century tokens).

           
Early 19^th century  

The issue of tokens was stopped by the official copper coin issues of 1797 and 1799, but an increase in the price of copper prevented  further significant Mint issues until 1821. In addition there was a shortage of silver coin at the beginning of the eighteenth century, so private silver and copper tokens were again issued. There are several London issues in both metals but none for the East End.

Other tokens
    Advertising
    Communion Tokens
    Co-ops and other merchants
    Market Tokens
    Pub checks
    Other value stated
    Other refreshment/industrial/Charity (under construction)

Medals etc

            Commemorative  
                Thames Tunnel
                Great Eastern
                Maritime
                Municipal
                Other

                Education  

                Religion

                Pay checks