British Tokens, Tickets and Passes

Metropolitan Middlesex, Crown Court [Russell Street], John Spicer, Halfpenny, 1667, 3.72g/6h (N 8685a, this piece; BW. 807). Fine, scarce; the only issue from the locality £70-90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, 17th Century Tokens from the Collection of Quentin Archer.

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Collection

Provenance: R.A. Nott Collection; Norweb Collection, Spink Auction 212, 28-9 March 2012, lot 669 (part); bt S.H. Monks April 2012.

The reverse bears the depiction of a lute. Musical instruments are rarely found on 17th century tokens, but in this case the device may indicate that the issuer had a connection with music played at the nearby Theatre Royal (per Quentin Archer)