Summary

Copper one Penny Token, minted by an unknown British Mint, circa 1854. Issued by Alfred Nicholas, of the Liverpool Tea Warehouse, Hobart. Nicholas established a retail warehouse, offering goods such as sugar, brandy, ale and tobacco. He also took a keen interest in the colony's administration and was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Assembly in 1858 and 1859, representing Hobart and Kingsborough.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the company which issued the tokens: A. Nicholas, Liverpool Tea Warehouse, Liverpool St., Hobarton (sic). The reverse features a crude coat of arms of the city of Liverpool in England. This token has been cleaned and varnished.

Obverse Description

At centre, A. NICHOLAS / LIVERPOOL St.; around, LIVERPOOL TEA WAREHOUSE . HOBARTON .

Reverse Description

Arms of the city of Liverpool, within an ornate shield a Liver bird facing left with weed in beak, the supporters are Neptune on left holding a trident and flag and a Triton on right blowing a sea-shell and holding a flag. Below, on ribbon most of the city motto, DEUS NOBIS HAEC FECIT - the correct motto is: Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit [God has given us these days of peace]. The crest is a second Liverbird.

Edge Description

Pain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Mr Alfred Chitty, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1853 AD

  • Issued By

    Alfred Nicholas - Liverpool Tea Warehouse, Hobart, Greater Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1850-1855
    Hobart given as Hobarton

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: A. NICHOLAS LIVERPOOL TEA WAREHOUSE LIVERPOOL St. HOBARTON Reverse: DEUS NOBIS HAEC FECIT

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - tasmania, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 21.822 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    City of Liverpool's own motto Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit [God has given us these days of peace] The arms were granted in 1797 and show a cormorant with a piece of seaweed in its beak. The cormorant also appears on the crest. The supporters are a Triton and Neptune, the God of the sea. They hold banners with the cormorant and a ship. The arms shows the importance of the sea to the city of Liverpool. The cormorant is often referred to as the Liver Bird, and is used widely in the city. [Link 1] 14 Dec. 2004
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 400
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 56

  • Keywords

    Tea Trade