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England - 1794

Shackelton`s

Obverse:

The Royal Arms, Crest, and Supporters of England.

Legend:

FRANCIS SHACKLETON LONDON

Edge:

PAYABLE IN SUFFOLK-STREET HAYMARKET .X.X.

Reverse:

A frame usually called a candle mould for making candles with 1794 below.

Legend:

FINE MOULD AND STORE CANDLES with an ornamental stop.

Vern's Comments:

Diesinker, Dixon; manufacturer, Lutwyche. Five cwts. struck. Common.

Comments. Francis Shackelton held the honour of being tallow maker to the Duke of York, and carried on his business at No.12 Little Suffolk Street, Haymarket, at the west end of the city.

Brass moulds for making candles appear to have been known in the eighteenth century, but those generally used when the token was issued were of pewter or tin, hanging on a wooden frame. Each tube had a conical lower end with a small hole just large enough for the passage of a looped wick, which was drawn through by means of a wire and fastened to keep the wick in the centre of the tube. The tubes were then filled with warm tallow from a ladle and left to cool. When the candles were cold they were hard enough to be drawn out of the mould.

There is a trivial variant of this token, D&H 476; and an extremely rare error with LONDON spelt LODON, D&H 475. It was condemned and only about a dozen impressions were struck. A specimen sold at Welch's sale in 1801 for 34/-.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 118-119

England — Middlesex

D & H 477 — Shackelton`s

Bell Pg: 118-119

O: Similar to the last, but the tail of unicorn comes to the o of "LONDON".

A. 359

R: The same as last.

E: PAYABLE IN SUFFOLK-STREET HAYMARKET .X.X.