Medal - Anniversary, Monster Clothing Co, Victoria, Australia, 1878

Search the collections

Summary:: Australia Victoria Melbourne
1878 (AD)
Mint: not recorded

This small medal was made by the Monster Clothing Company to celebrate 21 years in business and to promote the sale of their boys and youths' clothing. The Company had a retail premises at 21 Bourke Street East, Melbourne, and employed travelling salespeople. It was an enthusastic self-promoter, and published a full-page advertisement in the Sands and McDougall directory for Melbourne in the same year this medal was issued, advertising the 'largest assortment of men's and boys' clothing', 'all made on the premises, and thoroughly shrunk'. It claimed that its Order Department was 'conducted by the most Experienced and Stylish Cutters in the City', capable of making 'suits to order on the shortest notice'. It stocked 'new and fashionable' Scotch [sic] and English tweeds, and Colonial tweeds made at at Albion and Victorian Mills, Geelong. It also stocked ready-made mourning clothes 'for immediate use', as well as hats and hosiery, and boasted fitting rooms for customers. The Monster Clothing Company was last listed in the Melbourne directories at 21 Bourke Street East in 1888.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	27 mm (Width), 27 mm (Diameter)

Tagged with:	advertising, commerce, retailing, shops
Themes this item is part of:	Monster Clothing Co., Melbourne, Victoria, Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Commemorative
Tertiary Classification:	commerce & retailing
Series:	Commemorative
DateEra:	1878 AD
Obverse Description:	View of shop front with arched window above door inscribed, MONSTER CLOTHING / 21 / CLOTHING; at sides, BOURKE ST. MELBOURNE
Reverse Description:	* TWENTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY * / ESTABLISHED / FOR THE / SALE OF / BOYS / & / YOUTHS / CLOTHING / 1878
Edge Description:	Plain
Inscriptions:	Plain (edge) View of shop front with arched window above door inscribed, MONSTER CLOTHING / 21 / CLOTHING; at sides, BOURKE ST. MELBOURNE (obverse) * TWENTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY * / ESTABLISHED / FOR THE / SALE OF / BOYS / & / YOUTHS / CLOTHING / 1878 (reverse)
Shape:	Round
Material:	Copper Nickel
Issued By:	Monster Clothing Company, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1878
References:	Car.1878/2