Great Britain George III Spade Guinea Brass Token

WillieBoyd2

I have had this brass token since the 1960's when I found it in a coin dealer's "junk box".
Several years ago I looked it up and found out what it was and who made it.



Great Britain Gaming Token, imitation of George III Spade Guinea, Rex Tenby 1790

Obverse: George III facing right / GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA
Reverse: Spade Guinea design / JR.ET.JW.REX.F.D.TENBY.ST.C.M.S.P.ET.C / 1790
Brass, 25mm, 3.17gm

The inscription "JR.ET. ..." is:
"Joseph Rollason and John Wood, Rex, Fidei Defensor, Tenby Street (Birmingham),
Chain Makers, Stampers, Piercers, Etc."
The inscription makes this an advertising token also.

I now have a real gold Spade Guinea to go along with my brass token:



Great Britain Gold Guinea 1794 - "Spade Guinea"

Obverse:
George III facing left
GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA
Reverse:
Crowned arms of Great Britain, Ireland, France, and Hannover
M.B.F.ET.H.REX.F.D.B.ET.L.D.S.R.I.A.T.ET.E 1794
Gold, 25.0mm x 24.5mm, 8.37gm

The shield with the arms has a resemblance to a shovel or spade, hence the name.

The inscription "M.B.F ..." is:
MAGNAE BRITANNIAE FRANCIAE ET HIBERNIAE REX FIDEI DEFENSOR
King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith
BRVNSWICENSIS ET LVNEBVRGENSIS DVX
Duke of Brunswick and Lueneburg
SACRI ROMANI IMPERII ARCHI THESAVRARIVS ET PRINCEPS ELECTOR
Holy Roman Empire, Arch-Treasurer and Prince-Elector

Guineas are interesting coins, some made it across the water and circulated in early America.

JCMhouston

That makes a very nice pair!

zompels

<< <i>I
Guineas are interesting coins, some made it across the water and circulated in early America.
>>


I ve also the same thought , this is the reason I want to have in the future a nice pair of guineas , it's very exciting and interesting .
Nice pair you ve made , congrats.

LochNESS

I agree! That's really cool. That's the sort of thing I would consider submitting for a double side-by-side holder. Just to keep them together. Probably don't grade gaming tokens though. huh?

I have some tokens but I doubt I'll ever learn who made them or why. Very ambiguous designs with little or no text.

What resource did you use to look up this token?