17th Century Tokens, Love Lane [Billingsgate], Joh. Sandivear, Halfpenny, at ye rovnd hovse neare the falcon, 1.03g/12h (D 3543C, recorded from this specimen). Obverse fine, reverse mediocre but outer legend fully discernable, the only known specimen (£60-80)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of London 17th Century Tokens formed by the late Mrs Dora Harris.

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Provenance:
Bt Seaby February 1984.

In 1635 a Royal Post was established in the City to convey letters daily along the main roads out of London. The Round House in Love Lane was the receiving office for letters into Kent via the road to Dover, and the Essex road to Great Yarmouth. An announcement by the Postmaster-General in 1661 stated that “the Office for the Kentish daily post is now kept at the Round House in Love Lane, Billingsgate.” Perhaps Joh. Sandivear was the builder of the Round House (because his token bears the Bricklayers’ arms), or maybe he kept a nearby tavern under the sign of the Bricklayers’ arms