Undated (ca. 1694) London Elephant token. Hodder 2-B, W-12040. Thin planchet. Struck over Charles II halfpenny, S-3393. MS-65 BN (PCGS).117.1 grains. Full mint frost remains on satiny light brown surfaces. Many devices remain surrounded by mint color, and the luster is bold on both sides. The right and bottom obverse peripheries show denticles, and a wire rim or flange is visible at the right side. The reverse is ideally centered but shows no denticles around the border. Traces of undertype are seen on both sides, with the bases of BRIT atop the obverse, partially effaced by some still-visible file marks, and the complete CAROLVS A plain atop the reverse. AROLO is visible below the shield, representing most of the rest of the obverse legend from the halfpenny undertype. Aside from a tiny triangular planchet flaw at the central reverse and a bit of trivial spotting on the right side of the obverse, this piece is as nicely preserved and choice as could be hoped for.<p><p>Any Thin Planchet Elephant token is scarce, but Gems are particularly rare. The thin planchet in this case came from removing 40 grains of metal or more from the undertype, making it well prepared for planchet stock. Not all thin planchet Elephants are overstruck, though, and perhaps a dozen or fewer show any significant evidence of undertype. A choice example of the undertype coin, an English halfpenny of Charles II graded AU-53 (PCGS), acquired at the same time, accompanies this lot. (2 pieces in lot)PCGS Population: 2, 1 finer (MS-66 BN).From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s sale of September 1983, lot 591; Stack’s sale of the Robison Collection, February 1982, lot 55.
