Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Edward Reece, Christchurch, circa 1860. Edward Reece was born in Shropshire, England, but left his father's farm to work in Birmingham's hardware trade. He bought stock there and then departed for New Zealand, arriving in 1855. He established his business the following year. He was sufficiently successful to open additional stores in Christchurch and Fiji. He managed his store until 1879 when he passed the business on to his son, William. He died in 1887.

Previous Collections: Hon. William M.K. Vale

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: Edward Reece, Christchurch, Canterbury, Ner Zealand, building and furnishing ironmonger etc. The reverse depicts a shearer shearing a sheep with hand shears beside a large wheat sheaf.

Obverse Description

Legend in twelve lines, the first curved: EDWARD REECE / WHOLESALE / AND RETAIL / BUILDERS / AND FURNISHING / IRONMONGER / BIRMINGHAM / AND SHEFFIELD / WAREHOUSE / CANTERBURY / N.Z.

Reverse Description

A shearer sitting on the ground facing left to right of a large wheat sheaf with a hand sickle depicted across the middle. He holds a sheep which he is shearing with a pair of hand shears. Above ADVANCE CANTERBURY in exergue, NEW ZEALAND

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Sustainable Futures, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Honourable William M. Vale JP, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1860 AD

  • Issued By

    Edward Reece, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, 1854-1870

  • Previous Collection

    Honourable William M. Vale JP

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: EDWARD REECE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL BUILDERS AND FURNISHING IRONMONGER BIRMINGHAM AND SHEFFIELD WAREHOUSE CANTERBURY N.Z. Reverse: ADVANCE CANTERBURY NEW ZEALAND

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    14.343 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    The Reece issue of penny tokens required three obverse and two reverse dies for it's production. Identification of the die combination employed to make a particular token is the key to both the standard references and the museum storage system. The penny dies can be recognised by: Obverse I of RETAIL space D of AND to R of RETAIL A above the right edge of S 2.0 mm B to left of S 1.0 mm C above centre of S 1.5 mm Reverse Y of CANTERBURY to D of ZEALAND 1 9.5 mm 2 10.5 mm The following die combinations have been recorded for penny tokens: A/1, B/2 (this token), C/2 For details of the halfpenny dies see NU 38470.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 448
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 213/1
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes., No. 340b
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Ironmongers, Retail Trade, Retailing, Shearing, Wheat, Wholesale Trade, Wool