The White Horse

W. Birch, issued this trade token, worth a farthing, for his business at the sign of the White Horse, at Holborn Bridge, Middlesex.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 1368; Obv inscription: W.BIRCH.AT.THE.WHITE (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = A man on horseback (in field); Rev inscription: HORSE.HOLBORN.BRIDG (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = W.A.B. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field).

The issuer was probably ?William Brich appre. Farrier 1629; bound eight apprentices 1638-62 (see C. Webb ‘London Livery Company Apprenticeship Registers’ (London, 1996-, xxviii. 7, 73). See also token number 7105 in the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles, 59, The Norweb Collection: Tokens of the British Isles 1575-1750, Part VII - City of London. Holborn Bridge lay 'at the east end of Holborn Hill and north end of Fleet Market over the Fleet, at its junction with the Holborn, when the streams flowed openly through the City' (see Henry A. Harben, A dictionary of London (London, 1918).