British Tokens

Numismatists Tokens and Ephemera, LONDON, Walthamstow, Thomas de la Rue, the obv. matrix for a token or medal, unsigned, bust left in greatcoat, thomas de la rue above, 40mm, 561.88g; together with De La Rue Engineering Ltd, cupro-nickel, similar bust left, rev. manufacturers of 20th century coins, etc, edge grained, 26mm, 5.54g/12h (cf. Sweeny 35 Adv. rev.) [2]. First with some surface rust otherwise very fine and very rare, second extremely fine but stained on reverse £100-£150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Tokens from the Late David Griffiths Collection.

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Provenance: Second bt Format.

First only illustrated. Thomas de la Rue (1793-1866), originally a printer from St Peter Port, Guernsey, moved to London in 1816 where he initially established a business making straw hats. By the 1830s his company was making playing cards; by 1855 he was involved in printing postage stamps and by 1860 was producing banknotes. In 1896 the business became De La Rue Engineering Ltd and the family sold their interest in it in 1921