The Tilt Boat

John Michell issued this trade token, worth a penny, for his business at Little Somer's Key.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 2917; Obv inscription: IOHN / MICHELL / LIVING. AT / LITLE. SOME / RSKEY. NEAR / BILLINGS / GATE (in seven lines of Roman capitals, in field); Rev inscription: A. PENNY (in Roman capitals above sign. in field) Device = a tilt-boat with passangers and boatmen (in field)

See also, 96.66/1033, in the museum collection, and token number 7272 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. Little Somer's Key lay on the south side of Thames Street (now Lower Thames Street), it later became Great Somer's Quay, and Dark House Lane, the site is now occupied by Billingsgate Market, in Billingsgate Ward, City of London, see Henry A. Harben, A Dictionary of London (London, 1918).