BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

The arms were officially granted on March 23, 1948.

The shield shows a swan, having a Duke’s coronet round his neck, to which is attached a heavy gold chain. This swan was a badge of the ancient family of De Bohn, and of the Giffards who were Earls of Buckingham, and then of the Staffords who were the first Dukes of Buckingham. These two last-named families owned the important castle at Buckingham.

There is only one conspicuous prehistoric feature in the County, Whiteleaf Cross, which has been introduced on the shield. No tradition attaches to it, but it is a cross of the form known as the Latin Cross, which is intimately bound up with Christianity. It may be conjectured that it commemorates some early victory of Christian over Pagan forces. It is shown on the upper part of the shield, on a green ground, suggesting the setting of grass which is the background of the cross as we see it on the hill.

The buck supporter makes a punning allusion to the name of the County; but the animal has no connection with the name Buckingham, which is derived from that of a Saxon family. The swan is a free wild swan, such as may be seen on the Thames; he is free from the restraint of the gold coronet and chain.

The motto, ‘Vestigia nulla retrorsum’, which means ‘No retreat’ or ‘We never go backward’, is derived from and is still the motto of the Earl of Buckinghamshire.

The crest shows a beech tree. The beeches of the Chiltern Hills are perhaps the best known feature of the County, the beech woods of which are famous. The crown surrounding the trunk of the tree is a distinctively Saxon crown, and alludes to the fact that it was the Saxons who were the first settlers in the greater part of the county.

HALFPENNIES

Aylesbury

1796 Buckinghamshire Aylesbury Wheeler’s Halfpenny Conder Token

Obverse: A figure of Justice seated

Reverse: Shield of arms. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .  1796  .

Edge: Plain

Adam Simpson was a draper in Chesham

Engraver—JAMES. Manufacturer—SKIDMORE.

D&H Buckinghamshire No. 3 A. 4

Rated as scarce in D&H

Chesham

The arms were officially granted on February 20, 1961.

The colours gold, black, red, white and green reflect the colours of the County arms. The two beech trees represent the Chiltern woodlands, which have contributed so much to the prosperity of the town and the beauty of the neighbourhood. The black and white chequers refer to the River Chess, which takes its name from Chesham. The swan with outstretched wings and a golden collar is the emblem of Buckingham and of its Dukes.

The unique coronet of white lily-flowers, the principal emblem of St. Mary, Patron of Chesham, and chess rooks, a further reference to the River Chess. The chequers of the arms and the chess rooks both formed part of the device of the Council, before the arms were granted. The buck’s head is derived from the supporter of both the County arms and those of the Cavendish family, who have been Barons Chesham since 1858.

The motto is from the Epistle to the Galatians, Chapter V, Verse 13.

The arms are now used by the town council.

1795 Buckinghamshire Chesham Simpson’s Halfpenny Conder Token

Obverse: A cypher A. S.

Reverse: Shield of arms

Edge: PAYABLE AT ADAM SIMPSONS

Adam Simpson was a draper in Chesham

Engraver—DIXON. Manufacturer—LUTWYCHE.

D&H Buckinghamshire No. 20 A. 19