Token - 1 Penny, W.D. Wood, Montpellier Retreat Inn, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1855

Search the collections

or return to home page

Where is it from?

A Issued By Hobart, Australia

Similar items over time

1854
1854
1854
1854
1855
1856
1856
1856
1856

Summary:: Australia Tasmania Hobart
W.D. Wood Token Penny 1855
Mint: Uncertain British

Standard References: Andrews 640 = Heyde 278
Other Details: W.D. Wood ran the Montpellier Retreat Inn in Hobart Town and was a wine and spirit merchant. This token was struck with dies A/1, see References for details of die identification.
Description:: A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the company which issued the tokens: W.D. Wood, Montpellier Retreat Inn, Hobart Town, wine and spirit merchant. The reverse features a corner view of the inn with the front door open and Wood standing behind the bar on which sits a wine jug. This token has been cleaned and the obverse has re-toned dark green.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	34 mm (Diameter)
Weight:	13.743 g (Weight)

More information

Tagged with:	hotels, inns, wine spirit merchants
Themes this item is part of:	W.D. Wood, Hotelier, Montpellier Retreat Inn, Hobart, Tasmania (1821-1866), Numismatics & Philately Collection, Sustainable Futures Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, 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 - Tasmania
Tertiary Classification:	working strikes
Series:	Trade Tokens
DateEra:	1855 AD
Denomination:	1 Penny
Obverse Description:	At centre, W.D. WOOD / WINE / & / SPIRIT / MERCHANT around, MONTPELLIER RETREAT . HOBART TOWN .
Reverse Description:	Corner view of hotel; above, HOBART TOWN; in exergue, 1855; in small letters around hotel eves, MONTPELLIER RETREAT W.D.WOOD WINE MERCHANT. Wood can be seen through the front door serving behind the bar on which sits a wine or beer jug.
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	Obverse: W.D. WOOD WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT MONTPELLIER RETREAT HOBART TOWN Reverse: HOBART TOWN 1855 MONTPELLIER RETREAT W.D.WOOD WINE MERCHANT
Shape:	Round
Material:	Copper
Issued By:	W Wood - Montpellier Retreat Inn, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1855
Previous Collection:	Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch
References:	Andrews 640 = Heyde 278 Wood issued two types of penny tokens. This one, dated 1855 is classified as dies A/1 as dated pieces are listed before undated in Andrews. However the heavier weight of the second type argues that it is the earlier, dies B/2. Further, it offers the statement "payable on demand here Montpellier Retreat Inn" also suggesting an earlier issue.
Bibliography:	[Book], Dr Arthur Andrews, Australasian Tokens and Coins, Trustees of the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Sydney, 1921 [Book], Dion Skinner - Renniks & Co Pty Ltd, Gilbert Heyde, Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand, 1967