The Mealman

Robert Derds, a mealman (someone who deals in meal crops, such as oats), issued this trade token, worth a half penny, for his business in the parish of St Giles.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 2490; Obv inscription: ROBERT.DERDS.1666 (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = HIS / HALFE / PENY (in three lines of Roman capitals, in field); Rev inscription: MEALEMAN.IN.ST.GILES (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = R.I.D. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field).

See also token number 9311 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 place of issue for this token is uncertain; it may be St giles in the Fields, in Holborn, Middlesex, now London Borough of Camden, or it may be St Giles Without Cripplegate , in the ward of Cripplegate Without (now Cripplegate Ward), in the City of London.