Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by T. Pope & Co, Birmingham. Issued by T. Pope & Co Mint, circa 1855. These pieces, though promoting the profitability of exporting tokens to Australia, have been widely accepted as circulating here. The exact mechanism for placing them into circulation is not known. It is thought that they were distributed to the retail trades through wholesalers in either Melbourne and/or Sydney.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name, address and business of the manufacturer: T. Pope & Co. St. Paul's Square, Birmingham, coin and press makers. The reverse features Britannia seated extending an olive branch with a trident resting on her left shoulder and shield resting against the rock on which she sits. The Britannia reverse is similar to that on the standard British copper coins of the era.

Obverse Description

THE AUSTRALIAN / TOKENS / MANUFACTURED BY / T. POPE & Co. / (COIN & PRESS MAKERS, / ST PAUL'S SQUARE / BIRMINGHAM,) / ARE VERY PROFITABLE / TO EXPORT

Reverse Description

Britannia seated facing left holding trident and olive branch; shield bearing Union Jack rests behind; sailing ship at sea on left of token; above, BRITANNIA

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Royal Melbourne Mint Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

  • Date Issued

    circa 1855 AD

  • Issued By

    Pope, T. & Co. (Mint), Australia

  • Mint

    Pope, T. & Co. (Mint), 1848-1865

  • Previous Collection

    Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: THE AUSTRALIAN TOKENS MANUFACTURED BY T. POPE & Co. (COIN & PRESS MAKERS, ST PAUL'S SQUARE BIRMINGHAM,) ARE VERY PROFITABLE TO EXPORT Reverse: BRITANNIA

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 16.191 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    These pieces, though promoting the profitability of exporting tokens to Australia, have, since the Nineteenth century, been widely accepted as circulating here. The exact mechanism for placing them into circulation is not known. It is thought that they were distributed to the retail trades through wholesalers in either Melbourne and/or Sydney.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 658
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 211