Search the collections

Search the collections 78,397 records currently online

or return to home page

Where is it from?

Association locations map

Tags

Add your own tags:
Separate multiple tags using a comma

Similar items over time

  • Coin - 1 Cent, Prince Edward Island, Canada, 1871
    1871
  • Coin - 1 Cent, Prince Edward Island, Canada, 1871
    1871
  • Coin - 1 Cent, Prince Edward Island, Canada, 1871
    1871
  • Token - 1 Penny, Auckland Licensed Victuallers Association, Auckland, New Zealand, 1871
    1871
  • Token - 1 Penny, R. Gratten, Thames Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand, 1872
    1872
  • Coin - Half Sovereign, Victoria, Australia, 1873
    1873
  • Coin - Farthing, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1873
    1873
  • Coin - 1 Cent, Straits Settlements, 1873
    1873
  • Coin - 1/4 Cent, Straits Settlements, 1873
    1873

Token - 1 Penny, R. Gratten, Thames Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand, 1872 Numismatics Reg. No: NU 3759

R. Gratten Token Penny
Summary:
Bronze One Penny Token, mint unknown. Issued by R. Gratten, Thames Hotel, Auckland, 1872. The Thames Hotel, was run by R. Gratten in 1872. It stood at the corner of Queen and Customs Streets in Auckland. Robinson suggests that the name connects the hotel with the gold fields in New Zealand's South Island, and that fights between patrons at the end of the evening were a common event.

Previous Collections: George McArthur
Description:
A round bronze token (31 mm diameter) featuring the name and business of the company that issued the tokens: R. Gratten Thames Hotel Auckland. The reverse features a Maori in paddling a dog-headed canoe within a fern wreath and the date 1872. This token has been cleaned.
Acquisition Information:
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976
Discipline: Numismatics
Dimensions: 31 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.516 g (Weight)

More information

Tagged with: canoes, hotels, maori culture, maoris
Themes this item is part of: Richard Gratten, Hotelier, Thames Hotel, Auckland (1849-1875), George McArthur, Collector & Baker (1842-1903), Numismatics & Philately Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, McArthur Bequest
Primary Classification: TRADE TOKENS
Secondary Classification: New Zealand
Tertiary Classification: working strikes
Series: Trade Tokens
DateEra: 1872 AD
Denomination: 1 Penny
Obverse Description: Lehend in three lines: THAMES HOTEL / R. GRATTEN / AUCKLAND
Reverse Description: At centre within a wreath of fern fronds, a Maori paddling left in a canoe. The canoe is decorated with geometric patterns and has a dog head carved prow.
Edge Description: Plain
Inscriptions: Obverse: THAMES HOTEL R. GRATTEN AUCKLAND
Reverse: 1872
Shape: Round
Material: Bronze
Issued By: Richard Gratten, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, 1872
Previous Collection: George McArthur
References: -Robinson, H.A.. "Auckland Tradesmen's Tokens." The New Zealand Numismatic Journal. May 1974: p. 140
Bibliography:
  1. [Book], Dr Arthur Andrews, Australasian Tokens and Coins, Trustees of the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Sydney, 1921, No. 152
  2. [Book], Dion Skinner - Renniks & Co Pty Ltd, Gilbert Heyde, Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand, 1967, No. 85
  3. [Book], William Lampard, Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes, Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand Incorporated, Wellington, 1981, No. 321
  4. [Book], Vaughn Humberstone, Merchants Making Money, 2010

Comments

Vaughn Humberstoen Posted on 13 Dec 2009 11:21 AM
The Thames Hotel was opened on 1 November 1868, to cater for the diggers leaving for the Thames goldfields across the road from the Queen St Wharf (as well as for those returning). It was demolished in 1925. The second proprietor was Richard Gratten, born in Auckland in 1849 (making him NZs only NZ born token issuer). He took over the Thames Hotal in 1872, and died on 24 October 1875, aged 26. Reference: Humberstone, Vaughn. Merchants Making Money. Unpublished, 2010.
Discovery Centre Posted on 14 Dec 2009 12:49 PM
Museum Victoria Comment
Hi Vaughn, thanks for your comments and information. We've referred this to one of our History & Technology curators and will get back to you soon.
Discovery Centre Posted on 14 Dec 2009 1:29 PM
Museum Victoria Comment
Hi Vaughn, thanks again for your information and the offer of your research. We look forward to receiving this and will update our records as appropriate once we've had a look at the information contained therein.

Add your question or comment

  • Museum Victoria does not provide valuations, for more information please visit the valuation infosheet
  • Please note that Museum Victoria staff will not normally respond to comments posted on our website.

Themes

This item is part of the following themes:

Similar items

Recent Comments

GL-15?? I'll be surprised if this is correct. The American made equivalent was the '15' baling press, built from 1939 until 1949. To the best of my knowledge,th ...

Murray Stokes, Goorambat, Victoria on Negative - International Harvester, McCormick-Deering GL-15 Hay Press, Belt Powered, 1941

Tweet

To read the latest tweets from @museumvictoria

Follow us at http://twitter.com/museumvictoria

Join Up & Join In!

Follow Museum Victoria on

MV Links

I worked for Customs at Williamstown in the 1970s and the counter used to be longer, it had a curved piece cut off many years before I started work there. It w ...

Terry Breen on Counter - Customs House, Williamstown, circa 1871

MV Membership

MV E-News

Museum Victoria   |   GPO Box 666 Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia   |   Bookings & Enquiries 13 11 02
State Government Victoria
Yes No