Description
Denomination: Brass gaming token
Period: Victorian. imitating George III gold Spade Guinea
Date: Dated 1768 but actually 1865-1901
Origin: Various British manufacturers
Condition: AF
Obverse: Laureate bust. right. legend around. reeded edge
Reverse: Crowned heart-shaped shield of arms. legend around IN MEMORY OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Size and Weight: 22mm. 1.9g
References: See Hawkins. Advertisement Imitation Spade Guineas
Features and Provenance: Imagine sitting in the first few rows of a Victorian ‘Old Tyme Music Hall’ and this ‘coin’ may very well have been thrown at you by Vesta Tilley. These imitation coins or jetons were produced as gaming tokens. keepsakes and gambling chips. They imitated the spade guinea of George III but had nothing to do with him. but were never intended to pass as gold coins but used as advertisement pieces or trade tokens. Our token is inscribed with ‘In Memory of the Good Old Days’ but what those days might have been. one can only guess. maybe past performances by the male impersonator Vesta Tilley who was known to throw these to the audience as part of her act!
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
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