Post-Medieval — Mid 17th century; 1648-1673
The Katherine Wheel
This trade token, worth a farthing, was issued for a business in Aldersgate Street, Aldersgate Ward, City of London, in premises identified by the sign of a Catherine Wheel.
Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 22A; Obv inscription: AT.THE.KATRING.WHIL (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A Catherine Wheel (in field); Rev inscription: IN.ALDERS.GATE.STREET (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = O.M.B. (triad of intials in Roman capitals, in field).
The Catherine Wheel is representative of St Catherine, a martyr who protested the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Maxentius. The spiked wheel on which she was to be execeuted broke when she touched, and so she was beheaded. This device was still used as a manner of execution until the 1900s, known as a Catherine Wheel, or breaking wheel, see Encyclopædia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99687/Saint-Catherine-of-Alexandria. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- Category:
- Post-Medieval
- Object ID:
- NN16407
- Object name:
- The Katherine Wheel
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- O.B.
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
Aldersgate Street, Aldersgate Ward, City of London, London [City of London], City of London
- Production date:
- mid 17th century; 1648-1673
- Material:
copper alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- DM 16 mm, WT 1.11 g
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.