Thus came entirely to an end the issue of Traders’ Tokens in this country.
It is impossible to ascertain, or even to form a correct estimate of, the number of varieties of seventeenth century tokens that were issued. Boyne, after mature consideration and much research, estimated the entire issue as not having exceeded 20,000, and in that he was probably tolerably correct.
In round numbers the known examples of tokens of the seventeenth century, issued in the various counties of England, Wales, and Ireland, may be put down as in:—
Making a grand total in all of about twelve thousand distinct varieties; and these, of course, can be only about one-half of what were actually issued.
The denominations are Pennies, Half-pennies, and Farthings, and they are of copper, or, in not a few instances, brass.
Their shape is usually round, but some are square, others octagonal, others lozenge, and others again heart-shaped. These varieties will be best understood by reference to the following engravings, which may be taken as general typical examples.
