Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

17th Century Tokens, LONDON (Metropolitan Middlesex), Westminster, Woolstaple, William Sh[arpe], [16]66, Halfpenny, 1.15g/9h (N –; D –). Fair, legend mostly clear, extremely rare £100-150

The London and Middlesex hearth tax return for Lady Day 1666, one of the great documents of London history and compiled against the dual backgrounds of plague and fire, completes the surname of the issuer, believed to be William Sharpe, charged for 8 hearths at the New Palace, Westminster. The bust on the obverse is that of James, Duke of Monmouth and is flanked by the initials d m