Back

England - 1795

Kelly`s Light Harness

Obverse:

A postillion holding a horse with saddle and harness.

Legend:

KELLYS LIGHT HARNESS &C

Exergue:

SOLD CHEAP AT THEIR MANUFACTORY STRAND LONDON.

Edge:

PAYABLE AT LONDON -+-+ -+-+-+-+-+ -+ .+

Reverse:

A saddle between two bridle bits, beneath these a spur between two riding whips, and an umbrella below the spur.

Legend:

KELLYS PATENT SADLERY &C SOLD CHEAP

Vern's Comments:

Diesinker, Dixon; manufacturer, Lutwyche. Ten cwts. struck. Common.

Comments. J. and S. Kelly, at No.139 Strand, were saddlers, patent whip-makers to the Prince of Wales and Duke of York, and manufacturers of spurs, walking canes, etc.

Saddles were probably introduced into England by the Romans, and were certainly known to the Saxons, but without stirrups.

Spurs are said to have been used by the Greeks and Romans, and are represented on seals of the eleventh century. They were used by the Saxons, being made of iron or brass with a single fixed sharp point, instead of a rowel, and fastened to the shoe by a leathern thong. Knights of old wore golden spurs, and their squires silver ones. The rowel is mentioned in the reign of Henry III.

Whips and bridle bits are found on ancient sculpture but the curb was introduced into England about the reign of Charles I.

A Mr. Jonas Hanway returned from Persia during the middle of the eighteenth century and introduced the umbrella into England. The hackney coach and sedan chairmen regarded it as a threat to their livelihood since a shower of rain sent most pedestrians in search of transport, and so the lower classes and street gamins of the Metropolis hailed the appearance of an umbrella in the streets with hoots and cat-calls and suggestions in forthright language to "get a coach."

The early umbrellas were formidable pieces of equipment made of heavy waxed cloth with cane ribs, and with a ring at the cloth end for carrying on a finger, or hanging on a peg in the hall. Portable, and even "Pocket" umbrellas soon followed.

Commercial Coins 1787-1804., pp. 106-107

England — Middlesex

D & H 345 — Kelly`s

Bell Pg: 106-107

O: A postilion holding a harnessed horse. KELLY'S LIGHT HARNESS &C. Ex: SOLD CHEAP AT THEIR | MANUFACTORY | STRAND | LONDON.

A. 240

R: A saddle, spur, &c. KELLYS PATENT SADLERY &C. SOLD CHEAP.

E: PAYABLE AT LONDON -+-+ -+-+-+-+-+ -+ .+