The Three Cranes

This trade token was issued by a salter (someone who's trade involved the use of salt and working with chemicals for use in food), for their business next to the Three Cranes tavern, in the Old Bailey, ward of Farringdon Without, City of London.

Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 2096; Obv inscription: NEXT.TO.THE.3.CRANES (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = 1651 / W.B (initials in Roman capitals with date above, in field); Rev inscription: TAVERN.OVLD.BALY.SATER (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = 1651 / W.B (initials in Roman capitals with date above, in field).

The issuer is known to be William Barnes 'next ye 3 Craine tavern ' who was assessed on eight hearths 1678, see Kenneth Rogers, 'On some issuers of seventeenth-century London tokens whose names were not known to Boyne and WIlliamson', NC, 5th series 8 (1928), p.86). See also, NN17975, in the museum collection and token number 7421 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.