Dorset 17th century Token, Dorchester Town Farthing 1669

17^th Century Token, Dorset, Dorchester,Town Farthing, 1669, town arms upon a five turret castle, corners of which break inner beaded circle, rose on front brickwork of three towers, pierced sexfoil at top both side, legend surrounding, THE. ARMES. OF. DORCHESTE^R,rev.H*D at centre, cinquefoil between letters, three cinquefoils above, date below, all within beaded circle, A. DORCHESTER. FARTHING, weight 2.52g (Boyne 38; BW 53-56).Toned, scratch on castle, otherwise almost very fine.

Boyne suggests the HD letters on what is a halfpenny sized token maybe for Alexander Haviland who was Mayor of Dorchester at this time of issue. Though we not Haviland was not elected Mayor until 4^thOctober 1669 and was bailiff in the borough in 1665, 1673 and 1691. He also signed the Protestant address to Charles II with J. Haviland in 1681. The actual order for the token issue is preserved in surviving town minutes as follows when Joseph Seward was mayor: "J. Seward maio Feb. ye 5, 1668" along with seven others "It is ordered and desired yt Mr. Jasper Samwayes one of this Company doe speedily procuer Twenty pounds in copper Farthings for ye beniffet of ye pore of this Borough and that ye Towne armes be engraven on one side, and HD on ye other syde, and on ye side where ye Towne Armes are to be ingraven Round, ye armes of Dorchester and on ye other side where HD be, Dorchester Farthing, and under HD ye date of ye Lord." The explanation for HD initials is not given but the D is probably for Dorchester, the H could be for habitat perhaps in Latin form.