Summary

Copper one Penny Token, minted by Heaton & Sons of Birmingham, circa 1861. Issued by Robert Hyde & Co, Marine Store, Melbourne. Hyde's Marine Store was listed in a Melbourne directory for the first time in 1862. Between 1863 and 1865 he was listed as being in a partnership with Richard Hodgson (Hyde, Hodgson & Co.). In 1868 his Marine Store became a Rag Merchant's business, before becoming a Marine Store for 1869 and 1870. The firm's principal business was dealing in second hand and scrap goods.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: Robert Hyde & Co. Melbourne. General Marine Store. On the reverse a coat of arms consisting of a central shield below a Rising Sun supported by an emu at left and kangaroo at right all resting on a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered and contains: upper left - a golden fleece; upper right - a three-masted sailing ship; lower left - a bull standing facing left; lower right an anchor. Around above, PEACE & PLENTY; below, the date of issue, 1861. This token is cleaned and has re-toned.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle, GENERAL / MARINE / STORE / - / SHIPPERS OF / RAGS GLASS / METALS / &c.; around above, ROBERT HYDE & CO; around below, MELBOURNE

Reverse Description

Coat of Arms consisting of a central shield below a Rising Sun supported by an emu at left and kangaroo at right all resting on a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered and contains: upper left - a golden fleece; upper right - a three-masted sailing ship; lower left - a bull standing facing left; lower right an anchor. Around above, PEACE & PLENTY below, 1861.

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Royal Melbourne Mint Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Sustainable Futures, Transport, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

  • Date Issued

    1861 AD

  • Issued By

    Robert Hyde & Co., Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1861

  • Mint

    Heaton & Sons (Mint), Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1861

  • Previous Collection

    Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: ROBERT HYDE & CO MELBOURNE GENERAL MARINE STORE SHIPPERS OF RAGS GLASS METALS &c Reverse: PEACE & PLENTY 1861 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA

  • 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), 14.384 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    The firm of Robert Hyde & Co. issued trade tokens dated 1857 and 1861. Both issues appear to be the work of Heaton & Sons, Birmingham rather than W.J. Taylor as earlier thought (See Sharples JNAA.7 p.45). Standard references and the museum's storage are based on identification of the die combinations employed to manufacture the tokens. Issue of 1857 Penny: Obverse A with Reverse 1 - no variations Halfpenny: Obverse B with Reverse 2 then Obverse C with Reverse 2 the quick check for obverse die is the position of the & at the bottom of the central legend. If it is directly under the down stroke of the letter T it is Obverse B, if it is between the letters ET it is obverse C Issue of 1861 Penny: Obverse A with Reverse 3 then Obverse D with reverse 3 (Obv.A broke from the rim below the R of ROBERT to the right side of the central bar see NU 3963) like the halfpenny dies, the quick check for obverse differentiation is the position of the & at the bottom of the central legend. If it is directly under the down stroke of the letter T it is Obverse B, if it is between the letters ET it is obverse C Halfpenny: Four obverse dies were used to strike the 1861 issue Obv. C, E, F and G with a single reverse die, Rev. 4. Differences in the obverse dies are very slight. Obv.C and Obv.E have serifs at the top of the letter E at the end of the words MARINE and STORE, on both Obv. F and Obv. G that serif is missing. Obv C has a slight doubling of the letter N of MELBOURNE and on some examples shows a die crack between the letters ER of ROBERT. Obv. E has a slight entry of a letter M to the left of the M of MARINE. Obv. F has the first stroke of the letter R of RAGS directly below the first stroke of the H of SHIPPERS while on obverse G it is between the SH, much closer to the S. Obv.G has a small die crack on some examples to the C of Co. The following table of key measurement is also helpful in die differentiation: Obverse diameter inner circle RAGS GLASS Serif E
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 284
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 129/3
    [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. 101

  • Keywords

    Glass, Marine Stores, Rags, Recycling, Shipping