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Token - 1 Penny, B. Gittos, Leather Merchant, Auckland, New Zealand, 1864
Reg. No: NU 3754
- Summary:
- Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by B. Gittos, Leather Merchant, Auckland, 1864. Benjamin Gittos, 1808 - 1884, was one of Auckland’s earliest settlers. The Gittos family arrived in Auckland in 1840 and made camp near the waterfront before moving to farm near Hokianga. In 1845 the European settlers at Hokianga fled to Auckland following the outbreak of war with Hone Heke. Two years later Gittos started a leather business in the city, expanding to run a tannery at Avondale, on the Wahu river in 1863. At this tannery he initiated the techniques for tanning with the bark of native trees such as the tanekaha and the towhai. Gittos’ son William was an important Methodist missionary in northern New Zealand who learnt Maori language and acted as an interpreter and negotiator between Maori and Pakeha (Europeans) in land and other deals.
Previous Collections: George McArthur - Description:
- A round copper token (28 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the company that issued the tokens: B. Gittos, Wyndham St. Auckland, leather merchant and importer of boots and shoes. This token has been cleaned and varnished
- Acquisition Information:
- Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), George McArthur, 1976
| Discipline: | Numismatics |
| Dimensions: | 34 mm (Diameter) |
| Weight: | 14.537 g (Weight) |
More information
| Tagged with: | boots, grindery retailers, leather industry, leatherworking, retail trade, retailing, shoes, wholesale trade |
| Themes this item is part of: | Benjamin Gittos, Leather Merchant, Auckland, New Zealand (1808-1884), George McArthur, Collector & Baker (1842-1903), Clothing & Textiles Collection, Numismatics & Philately Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales, McArthur Bequest |
| Primary Classification: | TRADE TOKENS |
| Secondary Classification: | New Zealand |
| Tertiary Classification: | working strikes |
| Series: | Trade Tokens |
| DateEra: | 1864 AD |
| Denomination: | 1 Penny |
| Obverse Description: | Legend in six lines: B. GITTOS / LEATHER / MERCHANT / IMPORTER OF / BOOTS & SHOES / &c. &c. |
| Reverse Description: | Legend in nine lines: WHOLESALE & RETAIL / LEATHER / & / GRINDERY / STORES / WYNDHAM STREET / AUCKLAND / N.Z. / 1864 |
| Edge Description: | Plain |
| Inscriptions: | Obverse: B. GITTOS LEATHER MERCHANT IMPORTER OF BOOTS & SHOES &c. &c. Reverse: WHOLESALE & RETAIL LEATHER & GRINDERY STORES WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND N.Z. 1864 |
| Shape: | Round |
| Material: | Copper |
| Issued By: | B Gittos - Leather Merchant, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, 1864 |
| Mint: | Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1864 |
| Previous Collection: | George McArthur |
| Bibliography: |
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Themes
This item is part of the following themes:
- Benjamin Gittos, Leather Merchant, Auckland, New Zealand (1808-1884)
- George McArthur, Collector & Baker (1842-1903)
- Clothing & Textiles Collection
- Numismatics & Philately Collection
- Working Life & Trades Collection
- Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales
- McArthur Bequest




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