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 (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 an emu standing facing left in front of a rising sun with thirteen long light rays. Below on a scroll the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (without the spread bouquet of rose thistle and shamrock emerging below scroll that occurs on all other stock emu dies). Around above, VICTORIA . 1862, around below in two lines, T. STOKES _ MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. Border of 122 beads, the beak of the emu is cut by the 6th ray. This token has been cleaned and the obverse has re-toned greenish.

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 below the J and below the E of J. HOSIE and the flower points to the letter H.

Reverse Description

At centre an emu standing facing left in front of a rising sun with thirteen long light rays. Below on a scroll the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (without the spread bouquet of rose thistle and shamrock emerging below scroll that occurs on all other stock emu dies). Around above, VICTORIA . 1862, around below in two lines, T. STOKES _ MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. Border of 122 beads, the beak of the emu is cut by the 6th ray.

Edge Description

Plain

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