The Tankersley Collection of West Indian Coins and Tokens

Jamaica, PORT ANTONIO, L.D. Baker Fruit Company, L.D.B, uniface, brass, pierced as issued, 19mm (Lyall 280); L B D, uniface, pierced as issued, brass, 26mm (Lyall –) [2]. First very fine and very rare (reportedly only 4 known), second extremely rare, perhaps the only recorded example £150-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Tankersley Collection of West Indian Coins and Tokens.

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Collection

Lerenzo Dow Baker (1840-1908) founded the company in 1880, buying bananas in the Port Antonio and Bowden areas and selling them in Boston. The business expanded into the Boston Fruit Co. in 1885 and later was merged into the United Fruit Co. in 1899. These are possibly the earliest Jamaican fruit tallies.