Spade Guinea

An image of a coin. On the coin is a picture of King George, and around is written a quote from John Harris.
Spade guinea on a wooden stand from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: England
Year: ca. 1835
Materials: Gold and glass 

One of the most interesting pieces held in the museum collection is a spade guinea that was passed through generations of the Harris Family. Family stories say that this was a gift given by John Harris to his wife Amelia after there were discussions surrounding finances. Their youngest child Teresa Littledale inherited the guinea and had it fitted with a stand and had an inscription carved into it. The inscription reads:

“About 1835 my Father John Harris threw the spade guinea into the lap of my Mother Amelia Harris saying “There! As long as you own that you will never be a poor woman.” It has been looked upon as the family mascot ever since.” -Teresa Littledale 

The “mascot” was given to Teresa’s great nephew Victor Crutchley, grandson of her sister Eliza Bayfield Harris. Until 2019 it remained in the Crutchely family’s keeping, though one of their descendants, A. Crutchley, decided to donate it to Eldon House “…where it belongs.”

This is the first time this artifact has been featured by the Museum.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.