Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, 1862. Issued by J. Hosie, The Scotch Pie, Melbourne. James Hosie came to Melbourne in 1853 from Leith, Scotland. Hosie initially worked as a shoemaker, in Melbourne at the Western Markets and at the gold fields at Mount Blackwood. He returned to Melbourne and opened a shop, his father opened a pie shop next door and his success led James to follow suit. He was successful enough to move to better premises and then open both a hotel (the Baths Hotel) and Hosie's Baths, which were both successful businesses. Hosie invested heavily in land speculation at places such as Apollo Bay and Altona Bay. Unfortunately the boom burst and he had to go back to the mainspring of his wealth: selling pies. His last shop was in Little Collins Street. He died on March 30 1900, having made and lost a fortune, still running his pie shop.

Physical Description

A round copper token that is damaged (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: J. Hosie, The Scotch Pie Shop, 10 & 12 Bourke St. East, Melbourne. On the reverse 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 with horizontal and vertical lines, hatched 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 OL of COLLINS and the T EAST is below the MA of MAKER. The reverse die is cracked from the rim in an arc through the kangaroo to the letter R.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle, J. HOSIE / 10 & 12 / BOURKE ST. / EAST with a thistle under the name; around THE SCOTCH PIE SHOP : MELBOURNE : The leaves of the thistle point to the J and between the IE of J. HOSIE.

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 with horizontal and vertical lines, hatched 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 OL of COLLINS and the T EAST is below the MA of MAKER. The die was cracked from the rim in an arc through the kangaroo to the letter R when this token was struck. This was a Stokes stock die referenced as: Andrews 11 = Heyde Arms 3 = Sharples Arms 2

Edge Description

Plain

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