Summary

Bronze One Penny Token, minted by Stokes & Martin, Melbourne. Issued by John Henderson, Pawnbroker, Fremantle, 1878. This was the last trade token issue in Australia.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (31 mm diameter) with the name, address and business of the issuer: John Henderson, Peckenham St. Freemantle (sic) W.A., Pawnbroker. The obverse features a coat of arms with a swan as crest and kangaroo and emu supporters. The reverse depicts a large building with a flag-staff on the roof.The manufacturers name STOKES & MARTIN MELBOURNE is in small letters on the obverse.

Obverse Description

At centre a coat of arms with a swan as crest and kangaroo and emu supporters. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm, top left, three-masted sailing ship, top right, golden fleece, lower left, crossed pick and spade, lower right, wheat-sheaf. The shield is set above a bouquet of rose, thistle and shamrock set above a ribbon with the Latin motto TANDEM MOVETUR. Around above, JOHN HENDERSON; below, PAWNBROKER; in tiny letters below ribbon the makers name, STOKES & MARTIN MELBOURNE

Reverse Description

At centre a small group of buildings; below, ONE PENNY / TOKEN; around, PACKENHAM STREET FREEMANTLE W.A.

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

John Henderson was a pawnbroker. The date of the issue is provided by Andrews p. 53 no. 223 who also suggests (correctly) that this was the last trade token issue in Australia.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    1878 AD

  • Issued By

    John Henderson - Pawnbroker, Fremantle, Greater Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 1878

  • Mint

    Stokes & Martin (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1878

  • Previous Collection

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

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: JOHN HENDERSON PAWNBROKER TANDEM MOVETUR STOKES & MARTIN MELBOURNE Reverse: ONE PENNY TOKEN PACKENHAM STREET FREEMANTLE W.A.

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Bronze

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - western australia, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    31 mm (Outside Diameter), 10.076 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Henderson issued dated tokens in 1874 and undated pieces in 1878. The 1874 issue required one obverse (Obverse A) and two Reverses (1 and 2) to manufacture. Obverse A has the makers name in small letters at the rim to left and right of the Arms, the ear of the kangaroo points to the middle of the N of JOHN Reverse 1 has the date below the house, the F of FREEMANTLE is entered twice and the flag-mast points to the second N of PENNY. Reverse 2 has the date below the house, the flag-mast goes between the two N's of PENNY. The second issue (without date) began with Obverse A and a new Reverse (3). Then two new obverses were introduced Obverse B has the makers name below the ribbon and the ear of the kangaroo is below the right corner of the letter N, the letters ST of STOKES ar above the letter A of PAWNBROKER Obverse C has the makers name below the ribbon and the ear of the kangaroo is to the right of the letter N, the letters TO of STOKES are above, and touch, the letter P of PAWNBROKER Reverse 3 has the words ONE PENNY / TOKEN below the house. The following die combinations are known Issue 1: A/1, A/2; Issue 2: A/3, B/3, C/3 (this token)
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 222
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 103/3

  • Keywords

    Pawnbrokers, Swans