Post-Medieval — Mid 17th century; 1648-1673
The Turk's Head Coffee House
Ralph Wilkes issued this trade token, worth a half penny, for his business at the sign of the Turk's Head, in Spitalfields, Middlesex. The depiction of a Turk's head is a reference to the Turkish coffee sold at the premises.
Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 2936; Obv inscription: RALPH.WILKES.IN (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = HIS / HALFE / PENY (in three lines of Roman capitals, in field); Rev inscription: SPITTLE.FEILDS.AT.THE (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A Turk holding a coffee cup (in field).
See also, NN19230 and NN19231, in the museum collection, and token number 8448 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. Spitalfields lies in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, having formerly been part of Stepney, Middlesex.
- Category:
- Post-Medieval
- Object ID:
- NN19232
- Object name:
- The Turk's Head Coffee House
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Wilkes, Ralph
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Production date:
- mid 17th century; 1648-1673
- Material:
copper alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- DM 21 mm, WT 1.90 g
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
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