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Stokes & Son, Medal Makers, Melbourne, Victoria & Sydney, New South Wales
Thomas Stokes was born in Edgeburston, Birmingham, England, in 1831. He was apprenticed to a diesinker, and migrated to Australia in search of gold in the 1850s. He did not succeed, but returned to his trade as a diesinker and button maker. In 1856 he established a successful business at 15 Mincing Lane, Melbourne, and soon moved to larger permises at 115 Flinders Lane.
In 1857 Stokes acquired a press from W.J. Taylor and began to mint large numbers of tradesmen's tokens, some 82 varieties in all (this has more recently been contested). He also commenced the Australian Medallic Issues. Within a short time the business moved again, to 100 Collins Street. In 1873 Stokes took a partner, Martin, and the business was re-named Stokes & Martin. It added silverware to its product line, but the new direction was not well received.The business relocated to 29 Little Collins Street, where in 1893 a disastrous fire damaged a large portion of the business. Unfortunately Martin had forgotten to renew the fire insurance policy, and the partnership was dissolved as a result. Stokes rebuilt the business as Stokes & Son.
The business became a proprietary concern in 1911, re-named Stokes & Son Pty Ltd. Its medals ceased being artistically significant, although remained technically sound. It began to focus on mass-produced medals at competitive prices, rapidly produced with insufficient time to develop artistic designs.
In 1935 the business moved to Albert Street, Brunswick, and in 1962 Stokes became a public company, renamed Stokes (Australasia) Pty Ltd. By 2005, the business had relocated to Ringwood.
References:
Carlisle, L.J. (1983). Australian Commemorative Medals and Medalets from 1788. B & C Press Pty Ltd, Sydney.
Sharples, John P. (1990). Medals as Art: Australia and the Meszaros Tradition, p.16.
Stokes, Tom (1974). 'A Short History of Stokes Limited.' Australian Coin Review. August, pp.15-16.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 91 - 100) 1362 items
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Token Die - 1 Penny, Obverse, Collins & Co, Cheap Clothing Bazaar, Bathurst, New South Wal ...
Steel One Penny Token Die made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, circa 1962. Used for tokens issued by Collins & Co, Cheap Clothing Bazaar, Bathurst, 1864. Collins & Co appears to have exist ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
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Token Die - Halfpenny, Crothers & Co, Tea Merchants & Storekeepers, Stawell, Victoria, Aus ...
Steel Halfpenny Token, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, circa 1862. For token issued by Crothers & Co, Tea Merchants & Storekeepers, Stawell. The three Crothers brothers, William, Davi ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
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Token Die - 1 Penny, R. Grieve, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862
Steel One Penny Token Die, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, 1862. Used to strike tokens issued by R. Grieve, Wholesale & Retail Grocers, Eaglehawk, Victoria, circa 1862. Then used circ ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
Token - 1 Penny, Stead Bros, Grocers & Seedsmen, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1862
Bronze One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Stead Bros, Grocers & Seedsmen, Bendigo, Victoria, 1862. The three Stead brothers came to Victoria in the early 185 ...
From: Bendigo, Australia Images: 2 -
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Token Die - 1 Penny, Stead Bros, Grocers & Seedsmen, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1862
Steel One Penny Token Die, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, 1862. Used to strike tokens for Stead Bros, Grocers & Seedsmen, Bendigo, Victoria in 1862. It was also used post World War I ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
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Token Die - 1 Penny, Hodgson Bros, Grocers & Produce Merchants, Bendigo, Victoria, Austral ...
Steel One Penny Token Die, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, 1862. For tokens issued by Hodgson Bros, Grocers & Produce Merchants, Bendigo. Three brothers from Lancashire, Jonathan, Jos ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
Token - 1 Penny, J.D. Leeson, Watchmaker & Jeweller, Fancy Museum, Sale, Victoria, Austral ...
Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by J.D. Leeson, Watchmaker & Jeweller, Fancy Museum, Sale, 1862.
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2 -
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Token Die - 1 Penny, J.D. Leeson, Watchmaker & Jeweller, Fancy Museum, Sale, Victoria, Aus ...
Steel One Penny Token Die, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, 1862. Used for the obverse side of tokens issued by J.D. Leeson, Watchmaker & Jeweller, Fancy Museum, Sale, 1862. Previous ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
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Token Die - 1 Penny, Jas Davey & Co, Drapers, Grocers & Importers, Gippsland Store, Sale, ...
Steel One Penny Token, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Used for the manufacture of tokens issued by Jas Davey & Co, Drapers, Grocers & Importers, Gippsland Store, Sale, 1862. James Da ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
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Token Die - 1 Penny, Gippsland Hardware Co, Port Albert & Sale, Victoria, Australia, 1862
Steel One Penny Token Die, made by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, 1862. Used to strike tokens issued by Gippsland Hardware Co, Port Albert & Sale. Gardner asserts that this business was foun ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0
