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Token - 1 Penny, Flavelle Bros, Opticians & Jewellers, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Reg. No: NU 11150

Summary:: Copper One Penny Token, minted by W.J.Taylor, London. Issued by Flavelle Bros, Opticians & Jewellers, Sydney. Henry Flavelle joined George Brush in an optician and jeweller's business, Flavelle and Brush, in 1840. Brush left the business in 1850 and Flavelle brought in his brother John. By 1855 the brothers were sufficiently prosperous to extend their premises and open a branch in Brisbane. In 1868 the brothers were joined in partnership by John Roberts and the company became known as Flavelle Roberts and Co. The partners' sons were also involved in the business and the premises were expanded. By 1900 the business was both well known and well respected as manufacturer of jewellery. In 1926 another partner, Robert Sankey, joined the company. The business survived until the Great Depression, finally closing in 1932. Among the last products of their workshops were medals commemorating the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Description:: A round copper token (34 mm dia) featuring the name, address and business of the issuing company Flavelle Bros. & Co. Sydney and Brisbane, Opticians and Jewellers. The reverse depicts an emu and kangaroo facing on a grassy field. This token has been cleaned, the reverse is toning dark green.

Flavelle Brothers made two large orders for penny tokens from the private mint of W.J. Taylor in London. Two different obverse and two different reverse dies were employed. This token is characterised by 154 denticles around the rim and reference to the occupation of the firm (opticians and jewellers, see NU 3710 for the first type). The reverse die is characterised by the tall stalk of grass behind the emu which is bent (see NU 18419 for the other reverse form)

This token was once thought to be from a third die with two dots under the S of BROS however the second dot was caused by a metal flaw on the die
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	34 mm (Diameter)
Weight:	15.978 g (Weight)

More information

Tagged with:	jewellers, opticians, retailing, shops
Themes this item is part of:	Flavelle Bros. & Co, Opticians & Jewellers, Sydney, New South Wales, Numismatics & Philately Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch, Melbourne, Victoria, W.J.Taylor, Mint, London, United Kingdom, Branch Mints of the Royal Mint, Deputy Masters of the Melbourne Branch of the Royal Mint, Closure of Melbourne Mint, Melbourne Mint during World War II, Establishment of Melbourne Mint, 1872, Melbourne Mint
Primary Classification:	TRADE TOKENS
Secondary Classification:	Australia - New South Wales
Tertiary Classification:	working strikes
Series:	Trade Tokens
Denomination:	1 Penny
Obverse Description:	At centre between two plain scrolls, ONE / PENNY; around, curved below, OPTICIANS & JEWELLERS; around, FLAVELLE BROs. & Co. . SYDNEY & BRISBANE . A small second dot under the S of BROS was caused by a flaw in the die.
Reverse Description:	Emu on left facing kangaroo on right; in exergue in tiny letters, W.J.TAYLOR LONDON
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	Obverse: FLAVELLE BROs. & Co. ONE PENNY OPTICIANS & JEWELLERS SYDNEY & BRISBANE Reverse: W.J. TAYLOR LONDON
Shape:	Round
Material:	Copper
Issued By:	Flavelle Bros. & Co., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mint:	W.J.Taylor, Mint, London, England, Great Britain
User:	Flavelle Bros. & Co., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1850-1862
Previous Collection:	Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch
References:	Andrews 126 is this type but the second dot under the S of BROS is a flaw not a new die.
Bibliography:	[Book], Dr Arthur Andrews, Australasian Tokens and Coins, Trustees of the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Sydney, 1921, No. 125 [Book], Dion Skinner - Renniks & Co Pty Ltd, Gilbert Heyde, Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand, 1967, No. 72/1