A Sailor’s silver Token.

A George III unmarked silver Sailor’s Token, circa 1793, adapted from a silver coin [probably a shilling], one side engraved with H.M.S. Russell, 74 Guns, the other with script initials ‘RA’ over ‘AA’ and the date 1793.
HMS Russell was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 10 November 1764 at Deptford.
In 1782, she was commanded by Captain James Saumarez at the Battle of the Saintes. In 1793 John Willet Payne became captain and, the following year, the ship became part of the Channel Fleet, under Admiral Howe. The Russell fought in the Battle of Groix. She also fought at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797. The ship was sold by the navy in 1811. The ship’s journal for the years 1793-6 is held by the British Library.