The Bakers' Arms

James Holland issued this trade token, worth a half penny, for his business at Pickle Herring Stairs, near Tooley Street, Southwark.

Boyne & Williamson (1891) reference Southwark number 344; Obv inscription: IAMES / HOLLAND / HIS. HALF / PENNY (in four lines of Roman capitals, in field); Rev inscription: The Bakers' arms and 1668 (date above sign, in field).

See also, 96.66/907, in the museum collection for a farthing token from this issuer. The arms of the Worshipful Company of Bakers are: Gules three Garbs Or on a chief barry wavy of six Argent and Azure two anchors Or cabled Gules over all issuant from a cloud proper radiated in chief Or a cubit arm descending therefrom vested Argent cuffed Sable the hand proper holding a balance (J. Bromley, The Armorial Bearings of the Guilds of London: a record of the heraldry of the surviving companies with historical notes; with...[illustrations] by Heather Child...(London, 1960). The anchors are often omitted as they are on this example.