Coin Value | Evasion Token KETEC CATVC (UK) 1791

Evasion Token KETEC CATVC (UK) 1791

Date: 1611	Mint mark: not apparent	Size: small
Description: _ATVC 1611 KETEC from left to right reading around the top edge of coin with date being top center _ATVC on left 1611 at top and KETEC on right. There is a sheild with the top point between the 16 and the 11 at the top of coin. The bottom of the sheild stops in the middle of coin with 3 seperate points. The middle point leads down into a design that I am not sure what it is. The front has a man facing to the right of coin with a bow or strands of hair at the base of neck. Mans face takes up most of the coin with chest and top of shoulders being noted as well. No letter are on the front of my coin.
Composition: not precious	Wear: worn	Eye appeal: attractive
Damage: gouge	Errors: none	Toning: dark

[Request 12040 received from Jennifer Mobbs, Saturday, 04-Aug-2012, answered by Paul]

Hello Jennifer -- You must have an old evasion farthing from the UK. An evasion coin is one minted by local tradesmen with patterns and inscriptions deliberately different than genuine, legal coinage. The coins were different to minimize the chance of getting in trouble with the authorities. The inscription on your coin, KETEC CATVC (or GATVC), is nonsense. I believe you have an Atkins #452 which has another meaningless inscription EONA ATKNE on the side with the portrait.

The coin in our picture comes from Gary Groll in Corvallis, Oregon, where it is on sale for $125 US dollars, a good price for such a well-preserved token. Usually you see evasion tokens that have been worn to a frazzle, and these are worth far less. Similarly, the gouge in Jennifer's specimen will lower value dramatically. Remember if you have coins or tokens to sell to a dealer, expect offers at about one-half retail value or less. The mark-up is required to keep the dealership solvent.

There is a listing of some evasion tokens at this web site about Irish tokens. The KETEC CATVC is number 452.

CoinQuest thanks Gary Groll for use of his image. It is a nice one!

Evasion tokens are related to Conder tokens which appear on this CoinQuest page. You will find more information there. Another page with information about evasion token appears here.