Dorset 17th century Token, Poole, For the Mayor, Farthing, 1667

17^th Century Token, Dorset, Poole, Borough Farthing, 1667, Borough arms within beaded inner circle, star at top of legend surrounding and toothed border, * FOR THE MAIOR OF Y^E TOWN, rev. date at centre, .*. above and below with central pierced sexfoil, all within beaded circle, legend and toothed border surrounding, pierced sexfoil at top, *AND. COUNTY. OF. POOLE, weight 1.22g (Boyne 61; BW.108/9). Dark tone with patina from being in the ground, otherwise very fine.

The original order for this token appears in the Corporation books and was agreed at the common hall on 22^nd August 1667 as follows in abridged format:

"August 22nd, 1667. Moses Durell, Mayor, disbursed the sum of Ten pounds for copper money, with the stamp of the Town Arms on them, and the inscription 'For the Mayor of the Town and County of Poole,' and received in farthings (four to the penny) nineteen pounds and four shillings, to be passed in exchange betwixt man and man as current money, until it be prohibited by his Majesty's order. If not prohibited, the Mayor shall transfer to his successor the sum of nine pounds four shillings in current moneys or the same farthings."

We note that Moses Durell is listed as Mayor of Poole for 1666 and that Robert Cleeves was Mayor for 1667. The arms depicted feature scallop shells which were a symbol of St James the patron saint of this maritime town, though the arms on this small scale do not show all the detail of the full armorial bearings of the Corporation.