Cumberland Jack Token - Victoria To Hanover

Cumberland Jack Token - Victoria (To Hanover) - obverseCumberland Jack Token - Victoria (To Hanover) - reverse

© Elanor Blackburn

Features

Location United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
Type Utility items › Counter token
Year 1837
Weight 4 g
Diameter 23 mm
Thickness 1.2 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
158896

Obverse

Portrait of Queen Victoria with three stars under neck.

Script: Latin

Lettering: VICTORIA QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN

Reverse

Script: Latin

Lettering:
TO HANOVER
1837

Comments

The tokens & counters that bear the words “To Hanover” (commonly known as Cumberland Jacks) are usually found with Victoria’s portrait on the obverse and a figure riding a horse on the reverse (in the style of St George slaying the dragon). They were produced as satirical counters (I assume used for gaming).

The history behind these pieces is that when Victoria was crowned as Queen, she was unable to fulfil the role of King of Hanover under Salic Law, due to the fact that she was a female. Her unpopular Uncle (Ernest Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland) who was the oldest male heir to the throne was sent off to Hanover instead to fulfil the role, and the counters/tokens were produced to commemorate (celebrate) his departure. Such was his unpopularity that many of the tokens on closer inspection actually depict a monkey on horseback which was intended to portray the Duke.

They were produced around the time of Victoria’s ascension to the throne in 1837, and continued to be produced for the next few decades. They were finally made illegal in 1883.

See also

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
1837 

Get this item

No member from this site currently wants to exchange it.

Numista Rarity index: 87 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Contribute to the catalogue

Modify or add data on this page
Register a past auction sale
Register an example of this type
Duplicate this page
Share: Facebook X (Twitter)