The Wheatsheaf and Scales

Richard Norman, a baker, issued this trade token, worth a farthing, for his business in Cock Lane, Smithfield.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 696; Obv inscription: RICHARD.NORMAN.IN (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A wheatsheaf and a pair of scales (in field); Rev inscription: COCK.LANE.BAKER (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = R.I.N. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field).

See also token number 9286 in the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles, 62, The Norweb Collection: Tokens of the British Isles 1575-1750, Part VIII - Middlesex and Uncertain Pieces. The wheatsheaf and the scales depicted 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. Cock Lane, Smithfield lies in the ward of Farringdon Within, in the City of London.