Historic Wiltshire Tokens Offered As Part Of September Coin Sale
Forgotten Wiltshire currency is among the star lots in our upcoming single-owner coin sale, shedding light on the economic and social history of the county.
The collection of local tokens is set to go under the hammer on Wednesday, 24 September, alongside a comprehensive range of Irish official and unofficial currency, dating from the medieval period to the 20th century, making this sale a must-see for collectors of official currency and exonumia.
17th Century Farthing Tokens
In the mid-1600s, there was a critical shortage of small coins in Britain. To keep the local economy moving, local tradespeople began striking their own unofficial tokens, usually made out of copper or brass, for use in everyday transactions, from paying workers to buying ale.
Between 1648 and 1672, some 20,000 different tokens were made, with hundreds of different types known from towns and villages in Wiltshire. These tokens usually carried the name or initials of their issuer, a symbol of their trade and a reference to their locality, meaning they served as a miniature business card as well as a currency substitute.
Among the 17th-century Wiltshire tokens in our September sale is a rare example attributed to a female business owner from Devizes. Grace Naish's Farthing-size token bears three cloves - a clue that she may have been a grocer, dealing in luxury spices. The other side directs customers to her premises at Devizes Castle, which, when she commissioned the token, had recently been besieged by Parliamentary forces.
Another standout lot is a beautifully preserved token issued by William Heath of Swindon. It dates from a time when the town was a modest market settlement, long before the arrival of the railways. Heath is thought to have been a clothier, though further archival research may reveal more about his trade.
The sale also includes examples from Calne, Chippenham, Marlborough, Salisbury, Malmesbury, Bishopstone, Mere, and Bradford-on-Avon, each providing a fascinating glimpse into Wiltshire's commercial history.
19th Century Advertising Tokens
Unofficial tokens again saw widespread use in Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as the Napoleonic Wars made standard currency scarce.
By the mid-1800s, tokens were primarily a form of advertising for merchants and manufacturers plying their trade in England and Ireland. These pieces, often made in Birmingham, sometimes feature a pictorial engraving, so a tea importer's token might display a tea caddy, while a hat maker may choose a tophat.
The sale includes several examples of tokens issued successively by John Lamb and then William Lamb, both grocers and drapers operating in Cricklade, Purton and Wootton Bassett. Each proudly bears the image of a lamb, a clever branding device that makes these Wiltshire tokens particularly memorable.
Co-Op Milk Tokens & GWR Pay Checks
Tokens were still part of everyday life in the 20th century, and this collection features items that will be nostalgic for many. Aluminium bread tokens from the Co-Op, brightly coloured milk tokens from local dairies, and a clutch of GWR pay checks are reminders of Wiltshire life and industry in the recent past.
While these local tokens are attracting interest from Wiltshire collectors and those with connections to the county, the upcoming auction also features hundreds of lots of Irish currency, including hammered issues, an extensive arrangement of James II gun money, high-grade regal coinage and sought-after Irish Free State dates.
The 24 September sale forms part of RWB Auctions' busy autumn schedule, which is sure to keep fans of antiques, collectables and vintage jewellery very happy. Consignments remain open for general and specialist sales through to Christmas 2025, with sellers encouraged to contact our team today.
Wiltshire Tokens In The Press
Unofficial currency used for centuries to be sold (BBC, 7 September 2025)