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Pass or medal stamped with EIC balemark

Started by Henk, May 08, 2023, 08:12:07 PM

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Henk

I have this pass, or medal, stamped 4 times with the EIC balemark. I could not find any information about it. Who knows what this is? Please let me know your ideas.

Specifications are:
Copper, 32 mm. Edge blank. Medal alignment. Holed at top
O: C.W. (in circle of dots in raised edge)
R: E / A.19. (stamped) (in rectangle) / B (in circle of dots in raised edge)
Both Obverse and Reverse stamped two times with EIC balemark

EIC Pass.jpg

saro

a suggestion : "CW" could mean  'Cold Worked' / stamping without  preheating.
Maybe is it a label from a company specializing in stamping and supplying punches for the East India Company?
"EIC" cold marks as  advertising reference ?
"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)

Figleaf

Intriguing piece, Henk!

Above the hole are marks that a ring would not have made. They suggest a clamp, which in turn suggests use in a rigid position. Yet, both sides apparently had to be visible.

The big letters are of a relatively modern design and perfectly aligned, suggesting a date after 1795 (Boulton and Watt presses) but before 1874 (EIC charter expired)

By contrast, the text •A•19• is not well aligned and the parts of the text are struck with different amounts of pressure, therefore one by one with individual punches. This is therefore the identifying part of the piece.

With the above, I can't think of a logical use. The closest I get is that it identified something or someone. With the EIC connection, it is tempting to think the B stands for Birmingham, but I can't think of how the E fits in.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Henk

I would date this token in the first half of the 19th century, agree with Figleaf. Asit is stamped with a letter and number it likely is a pass to identify a worker  e.g to allow entry in a working area or as an id to pay out wages (or both). CW could stand for Central or perhaps Calcutta Warehouse. For the meaning of the E and B I have no suggestion.

As to the marks above the hole. These could well be caused by a metal ring used to suspend the token. To allow entry only one side would have to be visible. For wage payment or other purposes where the owner would have to be identified the other side could be inspected.

FosseWay

I disagree with such an early date. Leaving aside the balemarks, the style of the lettering is much more in keeping with the first half of the 20th century than the 19th. 

My speculation is that the balemarks are anachronistic additions to a tool check, in other words that they have been added since, probably long since, the demise of the EIC (it was formally wound up in 1874, but played little role in government or commerce after the suppression of the 1857 independence movement and the establishment of centralised British rule). They may be more or less contemporary with the host piece itself, or they may have been added considerably later, but they cannot have been added simultaneously with the main strike.