Summary
Copper Halfpenny Token, minted by the Kangaroo Office in Melbourne, in 1854. It was issued by James Nokes, a Wholesale and Retail Grocer. Soon after issuing his tokens Nokes experienced monetary problems, and sold his grocery firm to T.W. Thomas & Co. who also issued halfpenny tokens employing the Hotham commemorative reverse.
The tokens were struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office, with dies prepared in Melbourne using steel die banks brought from England, on copper halfpenny blanks.
Previous Collections: Henry S. Smith
Physical Description
A round copper token (28 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: James Nokes, Melbourne, grocer and on the reverse a stock reverse of the Kangaroo Office, Australia seated. Struck after the obverse die cracked.
Obverse Description
Legend in 3 lines (the first and last curved): JAMES NOKES / GROCER / MELBOURNE (Die cracked from rim to just below G of GROCER)
Reverse Description
Australia seated on rock facing to left holding an olive branch extended in her right hand and resting a staff on her left forearm; above, AUSTRALIA. Struck slightly off centre.
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Cultural Gifts Donation from Mr Robert (Bob) Edwards, 1989
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Date Issued
circa 1854 AD
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Issued By
James Nokes - James Nokes, Wholesale and Retail Grocer, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854
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Mint
Kangaroo Office (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: JAMES NOKES GROCER MELBOURNE Reverse: AUSTRALIA
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Denomination
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Series
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Material
Copper
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
28 mm (Outside Diameter), 7.39 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
This issue was struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office. The dies were prepared in Melbourne using steel die banks brought from England and struck on copper halfpenny blanks also brought out on the Kangaroo. The first issue had a commemorative reverse (the die has survived and is in the museum collection NU 35977). Nokes sold his grocery firm to T.W. Thomas & Co. who also issued halfpenny tokens employing the Hotham commemorative reverse. This, second form of Nokes token, was struck with a stock seated Australia reverse. Three of these dies are in the museum collection.
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 407
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 197
[Article] Sharples, John P. 1993. A Catalogue of the Trade Tokens of Victoria 1848 to 1862. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. vol.7: p.1-77., V. 120
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