18^th Century Provincial Tokens, Engraved

Norfolk, 1810, Engraved Love Token incorporating ancient Egyptian iconography, on a planed down cartwheel penny or a similar blank, 22.96g. Obverse engraved From, William, Brock, Nov 25^th 1810, in wreath sprays. Reverse A Token of Love, around a heart pierced with crossed arrows, the whole surrounded by an ouroboros**, a serpent eating its own tail.

Est. £70-£90

William Brock of St Margaret with St Nicholas Parish, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, married Deborah Carter also of the said parish on the 26th of December 1810, the Minister being Stephen Allen and the witnesses John Webster and Mary Day. The couple’s Banns had been published on the 25th of November 1810, 2nd December 1810 and 9th December 1810. This beautifully engraved love token on must have been given by William on the occasion that the first Banns were read. A most unusual and evocative engraved penny.
**The ouroboros was adopted as a symbol in Gnosticism and Hermeticism and alchemy and is often interpreted as a symbol for eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.