Undated (ca. 1694) London Elephant Token. Hodder 2-B, W-12040. Rarity-2. GOD PRESERVE LONDON. Thick Planchet. Fine-15 (PCGS). CAC. Handsome olive-copper patina with intermingled highlights of golden-brown. A bit soft at the elephants leading legs and, on the reverse, at the base of the shield, but the overall design is fully appreciable on both sides. Moderate planchet void in the upper right obverse field, shallow edge bruise at 2 oclock relative to the same side, few other tiny planchet pits on the elephant. 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.
