Britain, George III Spade Guinea Token – 1800s – United Kingdom Outlet Factory Outlet

Includes glass top display box.

• Origin: United Kingdom
• Denomination: Spade guinea brass token, imitating a real gold guinea
• Ruler: King George III
• Date: 1701, struck 1878 – 1881
• Obverse Design: Portrait of King George III right, legend around.
  
• Reverse Design: Crowned quartered shield of arms in the shape of a spade, legend around, date below.

The reverse inscription reads G.Y.I.ET.F.G.REX.S.UF.ST.D.S.T.M.S.ET, short for George Yorke Iliffe and Frederick Gardner (Rex). Suffolk Street, die sinkers, tool makers, stampers, etc.

These spade guinea tokens were not legal tender currency, nor were they counterfeits meant to be passed of as genuine. Rather, they were produced as novelty, souvenir, and promotional pieces that were used in advertising, as gaming pieces for gamblers, or simply given out as keepsakes.

Although they were based on gold guineas from the reign of King George III, most were actually made from brass during the later Victorian era. George III’s portrait was used in order to avoid anticounterfeiting laws, and some design elements like the legend were often changed for the same reason. They are known as “spade” guineas due to the spade shaped coat of arms on the reverse.

All purchases include a Certificate of Authenticity. You will receive the exact item in this photo, along with a glass top leatherette display box.