TOKEN

A cast lead alloy token or tally dating from the late 17th to early 18th century AD (c. AD 1680 - 1710). The token is bifacial with the obverse depicting a horned animal, possibly a cow, advancing left with head facing and tail upright. The body of the animal has cross-hatched patterning and is curved. There is an equal armed cross above the animal's back. The reverse of the token is divided into three sections; the topbpanel has saltires within, the bottom panel has crosses within; the issuer's initials C H are between.

This token is similar to Oxfordshire 'hatched cow' tokens, which have a curved animal on one side and initials and a date on the other and that have been recorded from a limited area around Wantage. This example does not appear to have a date however it is in the same class of token as the others. This brings the total of this type of token known to c.6. While the initials (and dates if present) on all the tokens differ, the 'hatched cow' design indicates a common and local theme. The initials may represent local landowners and the image of a (probable) cow may be a reference to cattle farming. Further research is underway. The depiction of a quadraped with ears / horns and and tail curved over the back is becoming more common through the recording of tokens with the PAS. For the Oxfordshire type, see for example BERK-0B82DD on this database.

A few of the tokens have saltires or crosses above the animal - it maybe that this is a Biblical reference and maybe the animals are sheep (i.e. the Pascal Lamb) rather than cows?

Numismatic data

No numismatic data has been recorded for this coin yet.