UNITED STATES: AE halfpenny token, ND, PCGS graded EF40, African elephant with curved tusks standing left // GOD PRESERVE LONDON, large shield of City arms, St George's cross with upright sword in first quarter, six pointed star below, thin planchet variety, ex Jerry D. Williams Collection. The origin of the Elephant token is unknown. It has been conjectured they were first minted soon after the great London fire of 1666 because the motto on the reverse reads, GOD PRESERVE LONDON. However, there is no evidence to substantiate this claim. More likely the motto is simply a general petition for divine grace. Also, because of the elephant on the obverse, it has been suggested the tokens were produced for the Royal African Company, founded by the Duke of York in 1622; but Frank Steimle recently explored this question and states that although a relationship to the company is possible, there is no evidence linking the production of the coins to the company. It seems the elephant was used as an eye catching novelty rather than as a symbol for a specific organization. The Elephant tokens were designed at the Tower mint in London for use in England, with the Carolina and New England tokens evidently serving as promotional pieces to increase interest in the colonies. In fact, as late as 1769, the numismatist Thomas Snelling stated he saw two obverse Elephant token dies in the Tower mint. Traditionally, the dies have been assigned to John Roettier, Chief Engraver at the Tower mint. Although they were probably created during his tenure, there is no evidence he personally worked on the design or cutting of these dies.

Estimate: 500-600 USD