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St. Eeds Token

Lace Tokens. 1648-1679
   But the threat constantly impending of fine or imprisonment for religion's sake was not the only hardship the lace-makers had to endure. They were daily hampered in their business transactions owing to the shortage of small change. Half-pence and farthings were nowhere to be had in any convenient number. This hardship, however, was not confined to the lace-makers. The whole kingdome suffered, and then some enterpriser hit on the expedient of making his own shall change. The idea was copied and in a few years every prominent tradesman had his private mint.
    ...
   Two lace tokens hail from St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, their peculiarity being a representation of a pillow used by two women, one on each side of it.
1. Obverse. "The overseers of. Their halfe penny."     Reverse. "The Towne of St. Eeds. Two women, seated, making lace"
2. Obverse. "The overseers of. Their halfe penny."     Reverse. "The Towne of St. Neots. Two women seated, making lace."

Thomas Wright, "The Romance of the Lace Pillow"

17th century tokens
1) James Brierly,Olney, Buckinghamshire: This token is listed by Williamson, but he has not linked it to the lace trade. This is perhaps explained by his note at the beginning of the Buckingham chapter, where he says "The Editor regrets that he has been unable to find any collector specially interesting himself in the tokens of Buckinghamshire, and he has consequently been unable to obtain any notes on the issuers."
2) Peter Reynoldes, Buckingham: Again, presumably for the reasons given above, although Williamson has listed this token, he has not linked it to the lace trade in spite of the image of a strip of lace on it.
3) Iohn Rennals, Buckingham, 1688: Ditto.
4) The lace tokens of St. Neots, Huntingdonshire: Both these tokens are listed by Williamson. They are both "town issues", i.e. they were struck by the authority of the town council rather than by local traders. A quick Google search on the net shows that lace-making did indeed take place at St. Neots, which would explain the images. As they were not actually issued by lace traders, this would explain why Williamson has not linked them to the trade.

Dalton & Hamer's The Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century

This is the St. Eeds token, undated, but better condition than the next example from St. Eeds. ~2.1 cm in diameter, weight is 1.65 gm.

first posted 2/20/2009