Undated (ca. 1694) London Elephant Token. Hodder 2-B, W-12040. Rarity-2. GOD PRESERVE LONDON. Thick Planchet. AU-58 (PCGS).Exceptional quality for this popular early Colonial era type, both sides exhibit a hard satin texture that is free of all but a few trivial marks and flan fissures. The strike is well centered and boldly executed, the major design elements sharply to fully defined. Handsome medium brown patina throughout, a few blushes of lighter autumn-brown are more prevalent on the obverse. These pieces were likely struck at the Tower Mint in London and used as trade tokens in England. Examples with reverse inscriptions pertaining to London, as here, are the most plentiful, and they have been adopted by American collectors due to their association with the rarer Carolina and New England Elephant tokens.
