The Waterman's Arms

Edward Willdee issued this trade token, worth a half penny, for his business at the the sign of the Watermens' Arms, at Wapping Dock, Middlesex.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 3353; Obv inscription: EDWARD. WILLDEE. AT. YE. WATER (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = The Watermans' arms (in field); Rev inscription: MANS.ARMS.AT.WAPPIN.DOCK (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = HIS / HALF / PENY / E.E.W. (in four lines of Roman capitals with triad of initials as bottom, in field).

The arms of the Worshipful company of Watermen are: Argent, in base barry wavy of six azure and argent a boat proper, on a chief azure two oars in saltire or between two cushions argent fretted gules trimmed argent tasselled (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).See also token number 8550 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. Wapping Dock, lay in Stepney, Middlesex; the area is now part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.