Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Robison Bros.& Co, Victoria Copper Works, Melbourne, 1862. William and George Robison founded this company in 1854 and were joined by their brothers over the next nine years. In 1858 William Robison, one of the founders of the company, left to begin his own, competing business. By 1862 the main family firm was listed in Flinders Street, they later moved to South Melbourne. Once established in South Melbourne the business expanded, and in addition to their metal working business, Robison Bros. developed a substantial ships chandler's business. They remained at their South Melbourne site until 1971.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name, company name and address of the issues: Robison Brothers, Victoria Copper Works, 31 Flinders Street West, Melbourne The reverse features a coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and on right emu with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is shaded vertical and horitontal but there is no hatching around the stars. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. The T of T. STOKES above the first L of COLLINS and the T EAST is below the first stroke of the A of MAKER. The standard references for this die are Andrews 12 = Heyde Arms 4 = Sharples Arms 1.

Obverse Description

At centre within line circle, ROBISON BROS. / & CO. / 31 / FLINDERS ST. / WEST; around, VICTORIA COPPER WORKS : MELBOURNE : (Sharples' obverse A)

Reverse Description

Coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and on right emu with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is shaded vertical and horitontal but there is no hatching around the stars. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. The T of T. STOKES above the first L of COLLINS and the T EAST is below the first stroke of the A of MAKER. The standard references for this die are Andrews 12 = Heyde Arms 4 = Sharples Arms 1.

Edge Description

Plain

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

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Robison Bros.& Co Victoria Copper Works, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: ROBISON BROS. & CO. 31 FLINDERS ST. WEST VICTORIA COPPER WORKS MELBOURNE Reverse: VICTORIA . 1862 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA T. STOKES, MAKER. 100 COLLINS ST. EAST. MELBOURNE

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.978 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    The issue of tokens for Robison Brother & Co. Victoria Copper Works required three different obverse dies. These can be quickly identified by the following steps: 1. If there is a dot under the letter T of ST (of FLINDERS ST) it is from obverse A. 2. If there is no dot under the letter T of ST and the letter S of BROS is below the letters RK of WORKS it is obverse B 3. If there is no dot under the letter T of ST and the letter S of BROS is below the letters K of WORKS it is obverse C. The reverse were Stokes stock dies with the following combinations observed: Obverse A combined with Arms 1 (this token) and Emu 4 Obverse B combined with Emu 1 Obverse C combined with Emu 1, Emu 2 and Vine 1 During this work Stokes acquired their own copper rolling mill permitting them to manufacture their own blanks. It is thought that the commercially available copper sheets were too thin and caused the dies to break. When they were able to prepare thicker blanks this was overcome. The weights of the tokens reflect the thickness of the blanks they were struck on. See Sharples JNAA.7 p55 - 56. Possible linkages between Stokes and the Victoria Copper Works in respect of blank production might prove useful.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 459
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 220
    [Article] Sharples, John P. 1993. A Catalogue of the Trade Tokens of Victoria 1848 to 1862. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. vol.7: p.1-77., V. 125

  • Keywords

    Copper Works, Heavy Industries