The Red Cross

Richard West issued this trade token, worth a farthing, for his business at the sign of the Red Cross, in Seacoal Lane (now Old Seacoal Lane).

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 2758; Obv inscription: RICH.WEST.AT.RED (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A cross pateé (in field); Rev inscription: IN.SEACOL.LANE.1662 (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = R.S.W. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field).

See also token number 7643 in the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles, 59, The Norweb Collection: Tokens of the British Isles 1575-1750, Part VII - City of London. Seacoal Lane, now Old Seacoal Lane, runs east off Farringdon Street, it is thought that it originally extended further to the north meeting Snow hill, before the creation of the railways lines in that area, see Henry A. Harben, A Dictionary of London (London, 1918).