The 1694 Carolina Elephant Token – An Enigmatic Token
Much like the London Elephant Halfpenny Tokens which were struck in 1694, but undated, the Carolina Elephant tokens have another mysterious past. No one knows for certain why they were made but numerous stories abound. However, unlike the London Elephant tokens, the Carolina Elephant tokens bear the date – 1694.
On the Carolina Elephant token, the obverse depicts a large, tusked, African Elephant. There are two varieties of Carolina Elephant tokens. They differ as to spelling on the reverse side. The older version, on the reverse, has the text, “GOD PRESERVE CAROLINA AND THE LORD’S PROPRIETERS 1694. The newer and more readily available version states “GOD PRESERVE CAROLINA AND THE LORD’S PROPRIETORS 1694. The second version has the correct spelling of the word “PROPRIETOR” and the “E” can clearly be seen under the correct letter “O”. Additionally, the Elephant on the obverse was not re-engraved but slightly repositioned so that the elephant’s tusks nearly touch the milling around the edge of the coin.
The second, corrected spelling, version is more plentiful, but neither coin is common. It is pictured below. Note the overstrike of the second “O” and also note that on the obverse that the elephant’s tusks are considerably closer to the milled edge than in the first version.
All varieties of Elephant Tokens are related and were made by the Tower Mint of London. The proof of that is in that all three varieties – London, Carolina, and New England – all use the same Elephant obverse die, but it is sometimes repositioned on the coin. At times the tips of the tusks are near the milled edge and at other times the tusks are farther away. But the design is the same.
The specific original use of these tokens is unknown but some did circulate in the Colonies. Were they English promotional halfpenny tokens to inspire interest in the Colonies? If you were an English citizen in 1694, would it be believable that Elephants existed in New England or the Carolinas? That is plausible but no one knows for certain.
| Date | Type | Mintage | VG Value | AU Value |
| 1694 | Proprieters Misspelled Variety | Unknown | $12,000 | $85,000 |
| 1694 | Proprietors Variety | Unknown | $7,500 | $75,000 |
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