Shipwreck Token By The Royal Mint

A late 1800's token issued to the coast guards.

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BOARD of TRADE "WRECK TOKENS"
. A short history by Capt. Brian Smith.
Coast Life Saving Service Association.
Apart from the Officers in charge of Coastguard stations, all other coastguards were volunteers and unpaid as is the case today. However when they were called out and attended or assisted in a shipping casualty such as a shipwreck, they received a token payment. It is stated that this was introduced to prevent pilfering from any cargo that was washed up from the shipwreck, this however is not established and we should regard it as payment for services rendered. Payment was made by the presentation of a "Token coin" to all those that attended, it became known as a "WRECK TOKEN", and was issued by the officer in charge on the completion of the operation. This in turn could be exchanged for the appropriate payment for the service rendered. E.g.;
2/6d. Turnout.
5/0d Attending a wreck.
£1.00. Saving a life.
Over the years the payment was modified as appropriate; this payment seems small today but was fairly substantial at the time.
THE WRECK TOKENS.
A design for the tokens was requested from The Royal Mint in January 1877, a design and samples of different types of metals was received the following April. A token the size and shape of a Crown coin (5/0d) and made of bronze , an initial order for 3.000 was placed, they were delivered in May 1877 at a cost of £10;00. A further order for 1.000 was placed in July 1883 and were delivered in August 1883. 25 wreck tokens were issued to each coastguard station and were stored in a canvas bag and held at the station.
DESIGN.
Initially all tokens were identical and issued by the Board of Trade, (later the British coastguard). On one side was a "CROWN" surrounded by the words "PROOF OF SERVICE AT A WRECK", on the reverse side a "THREE MASTED SAILING SHIP" surrounded by the lettering "BOARD of TRADE ROCKET APPARATUS"

IRISH WRECK TOKENS.
In 1922 at the formation of the "IRISH FREE STATE" the entire Coastguard life saving equipment was handed over to the new government. The coastguard was replaced by the "Coast Life Saving Service" ("Saorstat Eireann"). "THE IRISHHARP" replaced the crown retaining "PROOF OF SERVICE AT A WRECK", on the reverse side the "THREE MASTED SAILING SHIP" was surrounded by the lettering "SAORSTAT EIREANN and COAST LIFE SAVING SERVICE".
The Wreck tokens were withdrawn from service in 1972