Lot 2856

Description

South Africa, East Griqualand, Umzimkulu, F.C.Larken, set of four 'dual purpose' tokens, threepence, sixpence, shilling, two shillings, 1910-1929 and later 1940-1955 (Theron E.G. & T.X.). Corroded, three poor, one is good fine, rare. (4)

These tokens were isued by a woman, Frances Charlotte Larkan, and used at her stores in the East Griqualand district c.1910-1929. When her stores went insolvent they were purchased by Strachan and Co and the supply of tokens were kept by her son Robert Percy Larkan. The tokens auctioned here were re-used by Percy Larkan from 1940-1955 on the farm, Thorninghurst, in southern Natal to pay African labour to be used for exchange at local stores. Larkan would then redeem them from the stores by tading produce from his farm. In 1955 the tokens were disposed of in the dunny and then in 1978 dug up by Scott Balson and naturally as a consequence of the hostile environment they are corroded. Ex Scott Balson Collection.