Elephant Tokens

About This Coin

A distinctive series of copper tokens from the 1690s featuring an elephant on the obverse, produced in several varieties for the American colonies. The most common bear the inscription GOD PRESERVE LONDON on the reverse, while scarcer issues read GOD PRESERVE CAROLINA or the extremely rare GOD PRESERVE NEW ENGLAND. Their exact origin remains debated, though they are generally believed to have been struck in England, possibly to promote colonial ventures or the ivory trade. The tokens come in both thick and thin planchet varieties, and some feature LON DON with a broken word. Despite their English manufacture, these circulated in the colonies and represent some of the earliest tokens associated with specific American regions.