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The E-Sylum: Volume 19, Number 35, August 28, 2016, Article 13

THE M. WALFORD TOKEN OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

Last week Michael Sanders posed a question about a crude, unattributed token he'd purchased on eBay. -Editor

M. WALFORD 1 M. WALFORD 2

Peter Bertram writes:

Here's a thought on Mr. Michael Sanders token - don't know if this helps or not, but for what it's worth, here 'tis.

This piece possibly dates from the 1700s in Birmingham, England.

I googled "Dale End" and found out that "dale" was the valley "end" of a street in the built-up town of medieval Birmingham. But the key clue was:

"IN THE 18TH CENTURY DALE END WAS THE SITE OF THE BEAST MARKET"

So with a smidge of cross eyed legibility, a bourbon rocks, and a touch of imagination, I read the piece as:

M. WALFORD @ (at) DALE END (in) BIRMm (Birmingham!) [Need your address on a store card, right?]

WHOLESALE CHEESE & HAM WAREHOUSE • in center CURED EMOH (rotate 90° to read HOME DERUC)

Hope this helps - but if not, have a good laugh on me........

To read the complete article, see:
Dale End (http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-d/dale-end/)

Great start! There are many ways to skin a cat like this, and Peter's made good headway. Stay tuned on DERUC EMOH. -Editor

Ken Barr writes:

The token is indeed from Birmingham, but Birmingham, Warwickshire, Great Britain.

Batty's "Catalogue of the Copper Coinage of Great Britain, Ireland ..., Volume 2" lists as No. 969:

Obv: A cask inscribed "Imported;", "M Walford 3 Dale End Bir." Rev: A side of Bacon, "Home Cured.", "Wholesale Cheese & Ham Warehouse."

(I believe that M. Walford is the merchant, with 3 Dale End being the street address.)

If there is a more modern listing in a Seaby catalog, I couldn't find it after a quick search.

Bruce W. Smith writes:

The mystery token from M. Walford is certainly not a U.S. Civil War token, though I see it being offered on eBay as such. The token is in fact from England -- late 1700's or early 1800's, a farthing put out by the merchant, M. Walford. The inscription isn't clear in the photo, but reads: M. WALFORD 3 DALE END BIRM.M. Three Dale End is the street address, the town in Birmingham (abbreviated Birm.m). This token was listed in "The Token Coinage of Warwickshire" by William John Davis, published in 1895, as number 1018.

Ed Hohertz writes:

The Walford token is from Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Attached is a scan of the entry found on p16 in Unofficial Farthings, 1820-1870. R.C. Bell 1975. The guess is that this piece was probably issued before 1838.

Walford Token

Mike Knight writes:

It is an unofficial farthing from Birmingham in Great Britain. Read "M Walford 3 Dale End BIRMm" - Dale End being a district of Birmingham. Listed as very rare in P & BR Withers 'The Token Book', token 1030. The Withers notes Matthew Walford has been traced at this address 1822-1839, with his wife only listed from 1842.

Kay Olson Freeman and Ron Ward also chimed in with similar responses. Thanks, everyone! -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: PRIMITIVE M. WALFORD & DALE TOKEN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n34a21.html)

Fortin E-Sylum ad02 World Coins


Wayne Homren, Editor

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