Extremely rare set of two RPL and NFL Larkan togt labour "bobbin" tokens
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| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Product details
Allyn Jacobs describes these little "dung-besmattered" gems thus:
Dung-besmattered though they be,
The Larkans are a joy to see!
Staffords with their backsides etched,
Reek of mielies that were retched....
Long years they mouldered in latrine,
And but for you were never seen!
The set of two togt labour tokens offered for sale here carry the initials "NFL" and "RPL" - Naomi Frances Larkan and Robert Percy Larkan. In all only 66 pieces were minted with RPL and 34 with NFL. Many of them were corroded beyond repair. They were used from the 1930s to the mid-1950s to identify "togt" labour working on the farm Thorninghurst.
Less than five collectors have the pair - and all are prominent numismatists. The tokens were given to togt labour for a day's work and redeemed at the end of the day by handing the token back and getting dual purpose Larkan coins in exchange - see my other listing. These Larkan coins could then be exchanged at local stores for goods.
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SEE ALSO MY COMPLETE SET OF F C LARKAN DUAL PURPOSE TOKENS FOR SALE
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This set of two was dug up from an old dunny in southern Natal in the late 1970s (near Donnybrook). Their unique design resembles a bobbin used in sewing. They are very fragile because of their unusual construction. Every piece has a unique number identifying the labour.
When Percy Larkan sold his farm Thorninghurst the tokens were disposed of by him in 1955 by simply throwing them down the farm dunny. I met with Percy Larkan in the late 1970s and, using a rough mud map he provided, was able to dig them up under very trying circumstances.
Prof Clive Graham helped me save these Larkan token coins I retrieved by putting them in an acid bath. The acid bath removed the corrosive materials destroying them.
You can find out more about these coins on the BoB forum at:
http://forum.bidorbuy.co.za/coins-notes-numismatist/6818-southern-africa-tokens-3.html#post63263
http://forum.bidorbuy.co.za/coins-notes-numismatist/6818-southern-africa-tokens-3.html#post63264
The togt labour pieces for sale here:
LOW STARTING PRICE - INCLUDES POSTAGE REGISTERED AIRMAIL FROM AUSTRALIA.
Kind regards
Scott Balson