Both MTB South African Tokens (2021) and Hern’s Handbook on Southern African Tokens (2009) list six brothel tokens of which three were issued for use in Durban and the other three in Cape Town. These two port cities were the main entry points into Southern Africa for troops coming to fight in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).
British troops disembarking at the Durban docks in 1899 (The South African Military History Society)
The tokens are the following: Berthe, Jeannette, Martha (Durban) and Mademoiselle Janne, Lina de Lorme, Mascotte (Cape Town).
Berthe (Hern’s Handbook on Southern African Tokens), Martha and Jeannette (MTB South African Tokens)
Janne (Noble Numismatics), Lina de Lorme (Hern’s Handbook on Southern African Tokens) and Mascotte (Noonan’s Mayfair)
As we shall see, with one exception, the tokens in most cases show clear similarities regarding their sizes, composition, place of manufacture (France) and maker, being Cartaux of Paris. In addition, their date of circulation being during the Anglo Boer war era and running into...
