THE BOSTON CORN EXCHANGE HOTEL TOKEN

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V18 2015 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 21, May 24, 2015, Article 15

Coin stories are published everywhere and anywhere, and I see a lot of them in the course of the week. This one confused me for a bit until I realized where it was published. The article from a Boston newspaper described a token "for the Corn Exchange Hotel in Boston." But we Americans forget that the one in Massachusetts isn't the only Boston. -Editor

A 1459 token especially minted for the Corn Exchange Hotel in Boston has been unearthed by a former Boston councillor.

The 1459 token – pictured at the top – was especially minted for the Corn Exchange Hotel in Boston and worth three old pennies – just over 1p in today's money.

The Corn Exchange was located where Marks and Spencer is situated today in the Market Place.

The images are horrible and only show one side of each piece discussed. The 1459 date can't be right for a U.S. token, and at first I thought it must be a misreading of a worn date. But the terms "councilor" and "1p" were further clues, was is the mention of British retailer Marks and Spencer. My next stop was the URL of the web page it's found, which ends in ".uk" Yep, it's a British publication. The article describes a second "coin" as well. -Editor

On one face it features Wainfleet Hall, which housed Magdalen College School, founded in 1484 by William of Waynflete.

Mr Richmond added: "The Wainfleet halfpenny features on one face an image of the hall and on the reverse a woman with a ship's anchor and a ship in the background.

The tokens are not believed to be of significant value according to Boston's Magpies Nest which specialises in collectibles, antiques and vintage items.

Owner Des Ellerby said: "Such tokens, which were privately minted, came into existence as there was a shortfall of small denomination coins for everyday transactions.

"The edge of such coins should be inscribed 'Payable at the Warehouses of D.Wright & S.Palmer'. Although the Wainfleet Halfpenny can currently be seen on the internet at prices up to £150 each but in reality actual sales over the last 12 months have seen a price range of 99p to £28.76 per token with condition being paramount. The selling prices indicates this coin is common.

"The Corn Exchange Hotel Boston 3d Token is also 19th Century although the coin itself does not appear dated."

'Magpies Nest' is a great name for an an antiques shop. The owner correctly calls these tokens. He also places the hotel token in the 19th Century, so where did the 1459 date come from? I'm still confused! That might be "1459" on the OTHER token. Numismatic slipups by reporters are understandable and can be forgiven, but this article seems a mess all around. -Editor