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Where is it from?

A Issued By Sydney, Australia
B Mint Birmingham, United Kingdom

Token - 1 Penny, Iredale & Co, Iron Merchants & Ironmongers, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, circa 1851 Reg. No: NU 11324

Summary:: Copper one Penny Token, minted by Heaton & Sons in Birmingham, circa 1851. Issued by Iredale & Co. Iron Merchants & Ironmongers, in Sydney. Transported to Australia in 1812 and later emancipated Lancelot Iredale, founded an Ironmongery firm in 1820. In 1844 Iredale and Co. provided supplies to the expedition mounted by explorer Ludwig Leichhardt that crossed Australia from Sydney to Port Essington. The following year Lancelot's son Robert took over the business. Thomas, Robert's brother, and Frederic Lassetter joined the firm in 1850. In 1854 Iredale and Co. issued their first tokens, making them one of the first companies to issue tokens in Australia. In 1855 George Iredale, another brother, joined the firm. In 1861 after Thomas' death, Lancelot Jr., the Grandson of the founder, became the principal of the firm.
Description:: A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token design featuring the name, partial address, business and foundation date of the issuer: Iredale and Co., Sydney, iron merchants and general ironmongers. The reverse features Britannia seated on a rock against which a shield decorated with the Union Jack. Britannia extends an olive branch and holds a trident over her shoulder. On the horizon to the right a sailing ship. The makers initials H&S (Heaton and Sons , Birmingham) extend to the right of the shield. A letter K to the laft of the shield is the artist's initial (Kuchler)

This token was cleaned, the obverse has also been silver plated but still in places has re-toned green

Iredale was a large issuer of tokens production of which involved four obverse and six different reverse dies. This was their first issue and is the only one with the Britannia reverse
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	34 mm (Diameter)
Weight:	16.877 g (Weight)

More information

Tagged with:	ironmongers, retailing, shops
Themes this item is part of:	Iredale & Co., Sydney, Ironmongers, New South Wales, Numismatics & Philately Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, Heaton & Sons Mint, Birmingham, England, Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch, Melbourne, Victoria, 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
DateEra:	circa 1851 AD
Denomination:	1 Penny
Obverse Description:	At centre within line circle, ESTABLISHED / 1820 / IREDALE & CO. / SYDNEY around, * IRON MERCHANTS AND GENERAL IRONMONGERS
Reverse Description:	Britannia seated left holding trident and olive branch; above, BRITANNIA. On the horizon to the right a sailing ship. The makers initials H&S (Heaton and Sons , Birmingham) extend to the right of the shield. A letter K to the laft of the shield is the artist's initial (Kuchler)
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	Obverse: ESTABLISHED 1820 IREDALE & CO. SYDNEY IRON MERCHANTS AND GENERAL IRONMONGERS Reverse: BRITANNIA H&S K
Shape:	Round
Material:	Copper
Issued By:	Iredale & Co., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1851 or later
Mint:	Heaton & Sons (Mint), Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1851 or later
Previous Collection:	Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch
References:	This token was struck with dies A/1 Table of Iredale obverse die variations Die letters in SYDNEY alignment of H to I of IREDALE Shape of O in Co Border dots A 2.5 mm tall to middle of I oval 113 B 2.5 mm tall to top of I oval 128 C 3.0 mm tall above top of I oval 116 D 3.0 mm tall to top of I circular 116 Reverse die 1 depicted Britannia
Bibliography:	[Book], Dr Arthur Andrews, Australasian Tokens and Coins, Trustees of the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Sydney, 1921, No. 291 [Book], Dion Skinner - Renniks & Co Pty Ltd, Gilbert Heyde, Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand, 1967, No. 131