Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by an unknown British mint. Issued by H.J. Marsh & Brother, Ironmongers, Hobart, circa 1855. On 26 April 1850 Henry James Marsh opened an ironmongery and paint shop at the corner of Murray and William Streets. It is believed that he entered into a partnership with his brother Samuel Charles Marsh in 1853, but Samuel died the following year. In 1867 the firm was known as H.J. Marsh and Co., and in 1912 the firm was absorbed by Harris and Marsh. H.J. Marsh died on 28 April 1897.

Previous Collections: Hon. William M.K. Long

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name and business of the company which issued the tokens: H.J. Marsh & Brother, Murry and Collins St, Hobart Town, Ironmongers. The reverse depicts three agricultural hand tools within a double line circle above a crossed spade and fork together with the promise to pay a shilling for 12 penny tokens at the store.

Obverse Description

Legend in five lines, the first and last curved against the rim beads, H.J. MARSH & BROTHER / IRONMONGERS / MURRY AND / COLLINS ST. / HOBART TOWN

Reverse Description

At centre within a double line circle, three agricultural hand tools above a crossed spade and fork, around, ONE SHILLING FOR 12 PENNY TOKENS PAYABLE AT . H.J. MARSH & BROTHER .

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Sustainable Futures, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Honourable William M. Vale JP, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1855 AD

  • Issued By

    Marsh, H.J & Brother, Hobart, Greater Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

  • Commissioned By

    Marsh, H.J & Brother, Hobart, Greater Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1852-1862

  • Previous Collection

    Honourable William M. Vale JP
    Previous Collection originally recorded under the name Hon. William M.K. Long, which appears to have been a mistake.

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: H.J. MARSH & BROTHER IRONMONGERS MURRY AND COLLINS ST. HOBART TOWN Reverse: ONE SHILLING FOR 12 PENNY TOKENS PAYABLE AT H.J. MARSH & BROTHER

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - tasmania, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 12.519 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Archives Office of Tasmania, Index to Pioneer's Database, [Link 1] Archives Office of Tasmania, Index to Pioneer's Database, [Link 2] Archives Office of Tasmania, Index to Pioneer's Database, [Link 3] Archives Office of Tasmania, Index to Pioneer's Database, [Link 4] Archives Office of Tasmania, Index to Wills & Letters of Administration, Marsh, Henry James 1897 Ref. AD960/23, p. 166, Will No. 5142 Advertisement, The Hobart Mercury, 1 January 1858, p.1. The H. Marsh & Brother token penny issue required three obverse and three reverse dies for its production. The identification of the dies is the key to both the standard references to the tokens and the museum's storage. They can be identified as follows: Obverse Border Height centre letters MURRY AND Letter I A 119 beads 2.0 mm 18.0 mm between HJ B 136 denticles 2.4 mm 22.5 to J and 1.2 mm from M
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 342
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 157
    [Book] McNeice, Roger. Coins and Tokens of Tasmania 1803-1910., p.85 Pages

  • Keywords

    Agricultural Hand Tools, Agricultural Tools, Agriculture, Hand Tools, Ironmongers