IMITATION GUINEAS AND HALF-GUINEAS

Even More on the Good Old Days

Further to the last two weeks' pieces in The E-Sylum on tokens with the legend 'In Memory of the Good Old Days', Martin Purdy is absolutely correct in saying that these tokens were largely produced in the late Victorian era and the first decades of last century. They are commonly found in dealers' trays and on internet auction sites in base metal and, together with similar tokens, are known as imitation guineas or half-guineas.

There are about 150 varieties of the 'In Memory' type. Earlier types of Queen Anne and George III, resembling the regal guinea and half-guinea coinage in both design and legend, account for about another 350 die varieties - 150 with the early ornate shield and 200 with the spade-shaped shield as used on the later George III's guineas.

All the above types were probably produced as gaming counters. In addition, there are imitation guineas used as advertising pieces. About 450 different varieties of these are known and usually depict George III and/or a spade shaped shield, together with some reference to the maker of the token or to the product, or establishment. being advertised.

Finally, there are about 70 varieties of commemorative imitation guineas and half-guineas produced mainly in conjunction with George III's visits to Cheltenham and Worcester, and also to celebrate his recovery from bouts of ill-health. Most, but not all, of the commemorative varieties are listed in Dalton & Hamer - a publication well-known to collectors of British 18th century tokens.

An illustrated checklist of all these types of imitation guineas and half-guineas was published in 2013 by Galata Print in the UK: - 'A Thousand Guineas Plus' by Bryce Neilson & Martin R Warburton.

For more information, or to order, see:
A Thousand Guineas Plus. A Checklist of Imitation Guineas and their Fractions (https://www.galata.co.uk/a-thousand-guineas-plus-a-checklist-of-imitation-guineas-and-their-fractions)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
More on The Good Old Days (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n47a10.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: NOVEMBER 15, 2020 : The Good Old Days (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n46a12.html)

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