Summary
Copper Halfpenny Token, minted by Heaton & Son, Birmingham. Issued by Weight & Johnson, Drapers & Outfitters, Sydney, circa 1857. J.W. Weight & James Johnson, drapers, are listed in two Sydney Directories (Sand's Directories for 1857-1858 and 1861-1862). Over the period 1851-1870, John Weight was the only draper of that surname listed in Sydney directories, other than this four-year interlude where J.W. Weight is listed as a principal of Weight & Johnston.
Physical Description
A round copper token (28 mm diameter). The token design featuring the name, business and address of the issuer: Weight & Johnson, drapers and outfitters, Liverpool and London House, Pitt St. Sydney. It features a representation of Justice standing blindfolded holding scales and an inverted cornucopiae spilling fruit on the ground. A sailing ship is on the horizon.
Obverse Description
WEIGHT & JOHNSON / DRAPERS &C / LIVERPOOL / & / LONDON HOUSE / 249 & 251 PITT ST. / SYDNEY There is a slight double striking visable on some letters.
Reverse Description
Justice blindfolded standing facing, head to left, on beach; she extends balanced scales in right hand and holds inverted cornucopia from which fruits flow onto ground in left; sailing ship in background at left.
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Clothing & Textiles, Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978
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Date Issued
circa 1857 AD
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Issued By
Weight & Johnson, Sydney, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1850-1867
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Mint
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: WEIGHT AND JOHNSON DRAPERS & OUTFITTERS LIVERPOOL & LONDON HOUSE PITT ST. SYDNEY
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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
29 mm (Outside Diameter), 8.479 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
The museum's storage is based around identification of the particular obverse die employed to strike a token. The Weight & Johnson halfpenny issue employed four slightly different obverse dies. Identification is a little difficult: If there is no dot under the T of ST after PITT it is either die C or E for the museum's storage system, if then the lowest point D of DRAPER is between the letters LI of LIVERPOOL it is die C, else, with the point of the D above the letter I, it is die E. If there is a dot under the T of ST after PITT it is either die B or D for the museum's storage system, if then the verticle stroke of the numeral 4 would extend between the letters ON of LONDON it is die B, else, if the extension would pass through the first verticle stroke of the letter N, it is die D. This token was struck with obverse die B
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 617
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 272/2
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Keywords