The Pair of Scales

Tristrump Hewes, a baker, issued this trade token, worth a farthing, for his business in Clerkenwell, Middlesex.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 663; Obv inscription: TRISTRVMP.HEWES (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A pair of scales (in field); Rev inscription: AT.CLARKENWELL.BAKER (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = T.A.H. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field).

The scales on the token, are part of the Arms of the Bakers' Company. The arms of the Worshipful Company of Bakers' are: Gules three Garbs Or on a chief barry wavy of six Argent and Azure two anchors Or cabled Gules over all issuant from a cloud proper radiated in chief Or a cubit arm descending therefrom vested Argent cuffed Sable the hand proper holding a balance (J. Bromley, The Armorial Bearings of the Guilds of London: a record of the heraldry of the surviving companies with historical notes; with...[illustrations] by Heather Child...(London, 1960). The anchors are often omitted as they are on this example. There is another similar token in the museum collection, NN16701. Clerkenwell was formerly part of Middlesex, and is now part of the London Borough of Islington.