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.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the company which issued the tokens: Alfred Nicholas, Liverpool Tea Warehouse, Liverpool St., Hobart Town. The reverse features Britannia seated on a rock facing to left holding an olive branch extended in her right hand and resting a trident on her left forearm; above, BRITANNIA

Obverse Description

Legend in five lines, ALFRED NICHOLAS / LIVERPOOL / TEA WAREHOUSE / LIVERPOOL ST. / HOBART TOWN; the first and last lines are curved.

Reverse Description

Britannia seated facing left holding a branch and trident, shield with union Jack rests at right, ship in background at left; above, BRITANNIA

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    circa 1854 AD

  • Issued By

    Alfred Nicholas - Liverpool Tea Warehouse, Hobart, Greater Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1854-1864

  • Previous Collection

    Numismatics Collection, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), pre 1976

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: ALFRED NICHOLAS LIVERPOOL TEA WAREHOUSE LIVERPOOL ST. HOBART TOWN Reverse: BRITANNIA

  • 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), 14.437 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Two Britannia reverse dies were needed to complete this issue with the single obverse. The first reverse broke from the ear to the breast of Britannia (see NU 4170). The simplest method of identification of the reverse dies is from the exact position of the central prong of the trident in relation to the letter second N from BRITANNIA it can be confirmed by measuring the distance from the last A to the sea horizon line: Reverse Central prong Type A to Horizon 2 right corner of N Britannia 9.0 mm 3 centre of N Britannia 10.0 mm Obverse A and reverse 1 are related to the earlier A. Nicholas / Liverpool Arms type Recorded die combinations: B/2 (this token), B/3
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 402
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 193/2

  • Keywords

    Tea Trade