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England - 1794

India House

Obverse:

A camel and radiation.

Legend:

TEAS COFFEE SPICES & SUGARS.

Exergue:

A pentagonal star.

Size:

30.3 mm.

Edge:

Milled

Reverse:

View of the "INDIA HOUSE 1794" within a beaded circle.

Legend:

M. LAMBE & SON TEA-DEALERS & GROCERS BATH.

Vern's Comments:

BELL N^o 8 D&H 50

BATH Lamb, M. (1)
   Obverse :- Front elevation of a large building with INDIA HOUSE above it, and beneath, 1794. Legend :- M. LAMBE & SON TEA-DEALERS & GROCERS BATH with a star as a stop.
   Reverse :- A laden camel with the sun's rays breaking through a cloud in the sky. Legend :- TEAS COFFEE SPICES & SUGARS. with a mullet pierced argent in the exergue.
   Edge :- Diesinker, Arnold; manufacturer, Lutwyche. One ton struck. Common.
There are variants dated 1795 which is rare, and 1796 which is also rare, D&H 51, 52. Probably neither of these were commercial coins, but were for sale to collectors.

Comments. Mary Lambe and Son, formerly Mary Lambe, were grocers and tea dealers of Stall Street in Bath.
   The camel beneath the rays of the eastern sun probably refers to the spices sold; it is also the crest of the Grocers' Company. The mullet in the exergue may be derived from the crest of the family of Lambe; a demi-lion rampant ermine, holding between the paws a mullet argent.
   Varieties of the three dates, 1794, 1795 and 1796 are found on thick copper as penny pieces. These were for collectors and were not commercial coins.

England — Somersetshire

D & H 50g — Bath

Bell Pg: 154-155

O: A camel and radiation. TEAS COFFEE SPICES & SUGARS. Ex : A pentagonal star.

A. 40f

R: View of the "INDIA HOUSE 1794" within a beaded circle. M. LAMBE & SON TEA-DEALERS & GROCERS BATH.

E: Milled

Given that this is produced in brass I suspect it was struck for a collector.

India House