World Tokens, the Property of a North Country Collector

Ceylon, Coffee tokens (8), D. V. Gunaratne, obv. D. V. G, rev. 4 1/2d, copper, edge grained, 24mm (Prid. 41; cf. Ford 271); obv. G.R.P & Co, rev. 4 1/2d (Prid. 42; cf. R. J. Ford, Lot 272); GA (2), uniface incuse GA, copper, 26mm; obv. incuse GA, rev. incuse S, copper, 24mm (Prid. 43, 44; cf. Ford 272); J. P. Jayatilleka, obv. COLOMBO within a beaded and plain circles, JPJ within a plain circle, rev. CENTS within a beaded and plain circles, 19 within a plain circle, copper, 24mm (Prid. 46; cf. Ford 272); J. H. & G.S. (3), obv. JH & GS, rev. GONA / ADIKA, take value probably 9d, white metal, 28mm, similar but obv. stamped incuse AO; similar, task value probably 4 1/2d, 22mm (Prid. 48, 49, AO stamped piece listed as a variety of 48, but mis-identified as OV; cf. Ford 274) [8]. Second and fifth extremely fine, others fair to very fine, some rare £150-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, World Tokens, the Property of a North Country Collector.

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Provenance: forth bt. A. H. Baldwin & Sons, 1998 (ex. R. J. Ford coll.); others bt. D. Vorley 1987

D. V. Gunaratne was a native coffee dealer of Dam Street, Colombo. G.R.P. & Co. was issued prior to 1879, but no details have been traced of the issuer. GA has not been traced, but the tokens are of local manufacture and would seem to represent two values. J. P. Jayatilleka had a store in Dam Street, Colombo and the value represented the usual price for picking half a bag (56 lbs) of clean coffee. The tokens were struck in 1876. The issuer of J.H. & G.S. has not been traced. Gona Adika is an estate of over 1000 acres situated in Kadugannawa District. It appears for the first time in the Ceylon Almanac for the year 1860