Summary

Brass One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Morris Marks, Auckland, circa 1880. Morris Marks ran a pawnbroking and general store business in Auckland. Marks' tokens were made of brass rather than copper, and were smaller than a standard penny. As a result, they were not popular with the public. Part of the basis for the acceptability of trade tokens was the fact that they were made from copper, and so had value regardless of their utility as instruments of exchange. Marks issued his tokens circa 1880, making him one of the last of the Australasian token-issuers.

Physical Description

A round brass token (31 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the firm that issued it: Morris Marks, corner Queen St and Wellington St., Auckland, Pawnbroker and salesman. The reverse features the three balls of a pawnbroker.

Obverse Description

Legend inseven lines MORRIS MARKS / PAWNBROKER / AND / SALESMAN / CORNER OF QUEEN ST. / WELLINGTON ST. / AUCKLAND

Reverse Description

Three circles representing the characteristic three balls of a pawnbroker.

Edge Description

Plain

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