Broker's medal for Elias Lindo

Cast silver broker's medal. The obverse with the Royal arms of William III used from 1697 to 1702, surrounded by the Garter for The Most Noble Order of the Garter, surmounted by a crown, with the legend ‘W3’ on the left and ‘R’ on the right. The reverse with the Arms of the Corporation of London (without crest, supporters or motto), over a scroll containing the owner’s name: ELIAS LINDO.

In 1697 the City of London Corporation, regulated by an Act of Parliament, tightened up the admission procedures which regulated licensed brokers in the capital. There could be no more than 100 at any one time, and each applicant had to provide letters of testimonial approved by the Court of Aldermen. The Act of 1697 also set the fees and admission payments at a maximum of 40 shillings (£2) and lists naming the brokers were printed for exhibition at the Guildhall and Royal Exchange. Each broker was also issued with a silver medal bearing his name, the arms of the City of London and the Royal Arms. If challenged, the medals could be used by the license holder to prove accreditation. Only those issued to members of the Jewish community could be handed on from one discharged broker to another on admission, and this medal is particularly important because it is among the first issued and Elias Lindo was one of the first twelve Jewish Brokers to be admitted. A Hanukah (Jewish festival of light) lamp, dating from 1709, the oldest example of an English-made Hanukah lamp known, was made for Elias Lindo on the occasion of his marriage, by the silversmith John Ruslen. The lamp is now part of the collections of the London Jewish Museum. See J B Caldecott, in the Stock Exchange Christmas Annual (1905-1906) pp. 231-241.