Post-Medieval — Mid 17th century; 1648-1673
The Pair of Spectacles
John Varney, a mealman (someone who deals in meal crops, such as oats), issued this trade token, worth a farthing, for his business in Turnmill Street, Middlesex.
Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 3258; Obv inscription: IOHN.VARNEY.MEALEMAN (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A pair of spectacles (in field); Rev inscription: IN.TVRNMILL.STREETE (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = I.M.V. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field).
John Varney was a member of the Court of the Spectacle Makers 1668, Master 1671, see T.D.Whittet, 'Spectacle Makers' token[s]', Part 3, Newlsetter - Worshipfull Company of Spectacle Makers, 2 no.1 (May 1985), 12-13, 20. See also token number 7994 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.
- Category:
- Post-Medieval
- Object ID:
- NN19466
- Object name:
- The Pair of Spectacles
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Varney, John
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
Middlesex; Turnmill Street, Islington, London [Islington], Islington
- Production date:
- mid 17th century; 1648-1673
- Material:
copper alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- DM 16 mm, WT 1.09 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:
- CC BY-NC 4.0
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.
Download image file
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Credit: London Museum
To licence this image for commercial use please contact the London Museum Picture Library
Download image file
You are welcome to download and use this image for free under Creative Commons Licence CC BY-NC 4.0.
Credit: London Museum
To licence this image for commercial use please contact the London Museum Picture Library
