“The general impresses of these Tokens consisted of the names, residences, initials, and signs of their owners, by whom they were issued and paid; and the quantity used in London was so great, that Sir Robert Cotton supposed, about 1612, that there were 3000 persons who cast leaden Tokens to the amount of £5. annually, upon the average; of which they had not one tenth remaining at the year’s end. Notwithstanding this immense quantity, we meet with but few relating to London Bridge; and yet, by the experience and kindness of Edward Hawkins, Esq., Assistant Keeper of the Coins and Medals of the British Museum, and of Mr. M. Young, the well-known Dealer in those articles, I am furnished with a list, and drawings, of most of those which are known to be extant, and of which I shall now give you a description.
“1. _A Brass Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Lion rampant, _Legend_,--‘JOH. WELDAY. AT. Y^E LYON,’--_Reverse_,--‘ON LONDON BRIDGE. I.W. 1657.’
“2. _A Brass, or base copper Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Sugar Loaf, _Legend_,--‘EDW. MUNS AT THE SUGAR’--_Reverse_,--‘LOAF ON LONDON BRIDGE. 1668. HIS HALFEPENNY.’
“3. _A Copper Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Bear passant, chained, _Legend_,--‘ABRAHAM BROWNE. AT. Y^E’--_Reverse_,--‘BRIDG FOOT. SOVTHWARK. HIS HALF PENY.’
“4. _A Brass, or base Copper Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Dog, _Legend_,--‘JOSEPH BROCKET,’--_Reverse_,--‘BRIDGFOOT SOUTHWARK. ^{ B.} _{ IM.}’
“5. _A Copper Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Bear passant, chained, _Legend_,--‘CORNELIVS. COOK. AT. THE’--_Reverse_,--‘BEARE. AT. THE. BRIDG. FOT. ^{ C.} _{ CA.}’
“6. _A Brass Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Lion rampant, _Legend_,--‘AT. THE. WHIT. LYON,’--_Reverse_,--‘NEIR LONDON BRIDGE. ^{ C.} _{ T.A.}’
“7. _A Copper Token_,--Farthing size: _Obverse_, a Sugar loaf, _Legend_,--‘HENRY. PHILLIPS, AT.’--_Reverse_,--‘BRIDG. FOOT. SOVTHWARK. ^{ P.} _{ H.S.}’
“Such, then, are some specimens of the Tradesmen’s Tokens current on London Bridge; and though they are sufficiently rude in their workmanship, and base in their metal, yet with some collectors, they are of a far greater degree of rarity, and of value too, than the handsomest modern silver coin you could present them with. You will observe, however, that I have noticed those Tokens only, on which the Bridge is actually mentioned; but an extensive list of such as were issued in Southwark, will be found in Messrs. Manning’s and Bray’s ‘_History of Surrey_,’ already referred to, volume iii., ‘_Appendix_,’ pages cxi-cxv. Let me add too, that my authorities for these historical notices of coins, have been ‘_An Essay on Medals_,’ by John Pinkerton, London, 1789, octavo, volume i.; and ‘_Annals of the Coinage of Britain_,’ by the Rev. Rogers Ruding, London, 1819, octavo, volume iii., pages 127, 319, 324, volume iv., page 61. I must not, however, conclude these particulars of the numismatic reliques of London Bridge, without observing to you that there are some Medalets also extant, commemorative of its buildings. Of these coins we find a list in James Conder’s elegant volumes, entitled ‘_An Arrangement of Provincial Coins, Tokens, and Medalets, issued in Great Britain, Ireland, and the Colonies, within the last twenty years, from the farthing to the penny size_.’ Ipswich, 1798, octavo. Medalets, you know, Mr. Postern, are of that description of coins which were struck by the Romans, and used for scattering to the people upon solemn occasions: and those of which I am now speaking are of the class distinguished by bearing the representation of public buildings. In volume i., pages 72 and 73, of Mr. Conder’s work, are mentioned the following Medalets of London Bridge, of the penny size, executed by P. Kempson.