Summary

This copper Halfpenny mule token was minted by W.J. Taylor of London. It is a L. Levy Halfpenny token, issued in Wellington, New Zealand, muled with a O.H. Hedberg Token Halfpenny, issued in Hobart, Tasmania, circa 1875. Taylor retained the dies for both tokens and used them to make mules in the late 1800s. This token was struck with the die combination of Hedberg of Hobart and Lipman Levy of Wellington obverses. The British museum also has an example of this token which it received in 1878.

Hedburg was originally from Sweden but settled in Hobart in 1844 and became involved in the whaling industry. After the decline of the whaling industry in the mid-1850s, he opened a business as a produce merchant and commission agent in Argyle Street, Hobart, it is from this business his tokens were issued.

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 (28 mm diameter) featuring a Tasmanian and a New Zealand die pairing. It gives the name address and business of two issuers: O.H. Hedberg, Argyle St. Hobart Ton (sic) oil & color stores (traditionally termed the obverse) and Lipman Levy, Wellington New Zealand, Importers and manufacturers of boots and shoes.

Obverse Description

Across centre in two lines, O.H. HEDBERG around, ARGYLE ST. HOBART TON * OIL & COLOR STORES *

Reverse Description

Curved around top, LIPMAN LEVY in five lines in middle, IMPORTERS / AND / MANUFACTURERS / OF BOOTS / & SHOES curved aroune bottom, WELLINGTON NEW ZEALAND

Edge Description

Plain

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