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Token - Halfpenny, James Nokes, Wholesale & Retail Grocers, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1854
Reg. No: NU 29345
- Summary:
- Copper Halfpenny Token, minted by the Kangaroo Office in Melbourne, in 1854. It was issued by James Nokes, a Wholesale and Retail Grocer. Soon after issuing his tokens Nokes experienced monetary problems, and sold his grocery firm to T.W. Thomas & Co. who also issued halfpenny tokens employing the Hotham commemorative reverse.
The tokens were struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office, with dies prepared in Melbourne using steel die banks brought from England, on copper halfpenny blanks.
Previous Collections: Henry S. Smith - Description:
- A round copper token (28 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: James Nokes, Melbourne, grocer and on the reverse a stock reverse of the Kangaroo Office, Australia seated. Struck after the obverse die cracked.
- Acquisition Information:
- Donation from Robert Edwards - Museum of Victoria, 1988
| Discipline: | Numismatics |
| Dimensions: | 28 mm (Diameter) |
| Weight: | 7.390 g (Weight) |
More information
| Tagged with: | gold, grocers, retail trade, retailing |
| Themes this item is part of: | James Nokes, Wholesaler & Grocer, Melbourne, Victoria (circa 1830s-?), Numismatics & Philately Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, Kangaroo Office Mint, Melbourne, Victoria, 1854-1857 |
| Primary Classification: | TRADE TOKENS |
| Secondary Classification: | Australia - Victoria |
| Tertiary Classification: | working strikes |
| Series: | Trade Tokens |
| DateEra: | circa 1854 AD |
| Denomination: | Halfpenny |
| Obverse Description: | Legend in 3 lines (the first and last curved): JAMES NOKES / GROCER / MELBOURNE (Die cracked from rim to just below G of GROCER) |
| Reverse Description: | Australia seated on rock facing to left holding an olive branch extended in her right hand and resting a staff on her left forearm; above, AUSTRALIA. Struck slightly off centre. |
| Edge Description: | Plain |
| Inscriptions: | Obverse: JAMES NOKES GROCER MELBOURNE Reverse: AUSTRALIA |
| Shape: | Round |
| Material: | Copper |
| Issued By: | James Nokes - James Nokes, Wholesale and Retail Grocer, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854 |
| Mint: | Kangaroo Office (Mint), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854 |
| Previous Collection: | Mr Henry Smith |
| References: | This issue was struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office. The dies were prepared in Melbourne using steel die banks brought from England and struck on copper halfpenny blanks also brought out on the Kangaroo. The first issue had a commemorative reverse (the die has survived and is in the museum collection NU 35977). Nokes sold his grocery firm to T.W. Thomas & Co. who also issued halfpenny tokens employing the Hotham commemorative reverse. This, second form of Nokes token, was struck with a stock seated Australia reverse. Three of these dies are in the museum collection. |
| Bibliography: |
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Themes
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