The Still

John Simmons issued this trade token, worth a half penny, for his business on Little Somer's Key.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 2919; Obv inscription: IOHN.SIMMONS.1666 (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A still (in field); Rev inscription: ON.LITTLE.SVMMER.KAY (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = HIS / HALFE / PENNY / I.H.S. (in four lines of Roman capitals with traid of initials as bottom, in field).

See also token number 7273 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. Little Somer's Key lay on the south side of Thames Street (now Lower Thames Street), it later became Great Somer's Quay, and Dark House Lane, the site is now occupied by Billingsgate Market, in Billingsgate Ward, City of London, see Henry A. Harben, A Dictionary of London (London, 1918).