Help Needed (Id: Order Of The Garter Token)

HI ON THE REVERSE IT SAYS ......... HONI SOIT MAL Y PENSE

It doesn't have a date, it has crown and 3 feathers

Well, it's not a coin, but exactly what it is I can't say. It presumably dates from the reign of Queen Victoria (1800's). I wouldn't call it a commemorative medal, because it doesn't really seem to commemorate anything. I also wouldn't call it "play money" because the design doesn't look anything at all like any British coin of the period.

The portrait is similar to the "young head" used on gold and silver coins, though the actual coins have the legend in Latin rather than English. "Honi soit qui mal y pense" is the motto of the Order of the Garter, and appears on several British coins, normally on a belt around the coat of arms. Three ostrich feathers inside a coronet is the badge of the Prince of Wales.

...shame upon him who thinks evil upon it.

VVV info on The Order Of The Garter VVV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter



...edit. I believe, or thought I had a picture of a modern gaming token(1970s-1980s) that was the same as this and passed as a gold coin at auction. That's why I thought I had such a picture saved. I will post if I have, or can find

I believe that this is a token given to members of the "Order of the Garter" The motto on the reserve is that which is used by the order>