Not everything that glitters is gold, and not everything in a coin collection is legal tender. As I expand my “Type Set,” I am making room for Tokens—unofficial pieces that tell the story of how people lived and played.

This piece looks, at a glance, like a gold coin of George III. However, closer inspection reveals it to be a Gaming Counter (or Jeton), likely used for keeping score in card games like Whist during the Victorian era.

The Historical Context: Nostalgia for Gold

In the late 18th century (specifically 1787–1799), the standard gold coin of the realm was the “Spade Guinea” (named because the shield on the reverse looks like a shovel or a spade suit in cards).

By the mid-to-late 1800s, the Guinea had long been replaced by the Sovereign. However, the Victorians looked back on the Georgian era with a sense of romantic nostalgia. Manufacturers in Birmingham (likely close to the Heaton Mint!) produced thousands of these brass counters. They were used as play money or gambling chips.

The Token: “Good Old Days” Counter

  • Type: Gaming Counter / Jeton
  • Era: Struck c. 1860s–1890s (despite the date)
  • Design: Imitation of a George III Spade Guinea/Half-Guinea
  • Material: Brass (originally Gilded)
  • Reference: Hawkins (dictionary of makers) / Mitchiner

The “Counterfeit” Workaround:
Making fake gold coins was a hanging offense. To avoid the gallows, the makers of these tokens changed the legends just enough to stay legal.

  • Obverse: GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA (Accurate: “George III by the Grace of God”).
  • Reverse: Instead of the King’s Latin titles (M.B.F.ET.H.REX…), the legend reads: IN MEMORY OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
  • The Date (1788): This is a “frozen date.” While the token says 1788, it was almost certainly minted 80 to 100 years later. 1788 was chosen simply because it was a year the real Spade Guineas were in circulation.

Condition & Grading

Since these aren’t coins, we grade them on eye appeal and the preservation of the “gilt” (the thin gold wash applied to the brass).

The Assessment:

  • Details: The strike is surprisingly sharp. The hair detail on George III is distinct, and the heraldic lions and harps in the shield are clear.
  • Colour: The token retains a lovely golden hue, suggesting much of the original gilding is intact.
  • Surface: There is a small dark spot (corrosion or “fly speck”) on the reverse near the rim at 2 o’clock, which is common for brass.
  • Edge: The “milled” edge mimics a real gold coin effectively.

Grade: Extremely Fine (EF)
For a gaming token, this is in top-tier condition. Most were rubbed smooth on card tables. This one looks like it was kept as a keepsake.

The Verdict

This token is a piece of Victorian social commentary. It reflects a time when people looked back at the chaotic reign of George III as the “Good Old Days.” It is a fun, whimsical addition to the collection that sits perfectly alongside the serious regal coinage.

Further Reading: