Summary

This copper Halfpenny token was minted by W.J. Taylor of London. It is a Henry J. Hall, Halfpenny token, issued in Christchurch, New Zealand, muled with a L. Levy Halfpenny token, issued in Wellington, New Zealand. Taylor retained the dies for both tokens and used them to make mules in the 1880s.

Henry Hall was a grocer, wine and spirit merchant and ran a coffee mill. He arranged for two mints to strike tokens, W.J. Taylor in London, and Stokes in Melbourne. Hall issued nineteen penny token varieties, and three halfpennies. They were very simply designed, with text and no graphic elements.

Born in London, Levy moved to Wellington in 1842 and opened a business importing and manufacturing shoes and grindery (tools for shoemakers and leatherworkers). Levy issued four varieties of tokens, three pennies and one halfpenny, which were issued between 1857 (when the first tokens were issued in New Zealand) and his death in 1880.

Physical Description

A round copper token mule (28 mm diameter). The piece features the name and business of two original token issuers: Henry J. Hall, Christchurch Coffee Mills and Levy's reverse detailing his business, leather and grindery of all descriptions. Both sides give the denomination of Halfpenny.

Obverse Description

Across centre, HALF / PENNY around, HENRY J. HALL CHRISTCHURCH COFFEE MILLS

Reverse Description

At centre, LEATHER / & GRINDERY / OF ALL / DESCRIPTION / THE TRADE / SUPPLIED; around HALF PENNY TOKEN . PAYABLE AT LEVY'S LAMBTON QUAY .

Edge Description

Plain

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