Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Heaton & Sons, Birmingham. Issued by E. De Carle & Co, Grocers & Spirit Merchant, Melbourne, in 1855. De Carle arrived in Australia in 1849. Over the following fourteen years he was involved in a wide range of business ventures in Melbourne, taking advantage of the explosive growth caused by the gold rush. He later moved to New Zealand, where he died. De Carle's three different tokens, which featured his business as 'Grocers and Spirit Merchants,' 'Auctioneers and Land Agents' and 'Auctioneers, etc.,' indicated the range of his business activities and speculation. He was also involved in the urbanisation of Footscray and a section of Brunswick. De Carle operated his businesses with a number of partners, in a network of business dealings.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: Edwd. DeCarle & Co, auctioneers Melbourne. The reverse features a female figure, representing Tasmania, seated left on shield decorated with Union Jack, in her right hand she extends a balanced set of scales and in her left she rests a sword with point against the ground, around, + TASMANIA + ANNO 1855 This token has been cleaned and is a little worn.

Obverse Description

Within a border of 146 beads in four lines the first and last curved, EDWD. DE'CARLE & CO. / AUCTIONEERS / &c. / MELBOURNE

Reverse Description

At centre, a female figure seated left on shield decorated with Union Jack, in her right hand she extends a balanced set of scales and in her left she rests a sword with point against the ground, around, + TASMANIA + ANNO 1855

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, 11 Jan 1978

  • Date Issued

    1855 AD

  • Issued By

    E. De Carle & Co., Melbourne & Plenty, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1855

  • Mint

    Heaton & Sons (Mint), Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1855

  • Previous Collection

    Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: EDWD. DE'CARLE & CO. AUCTIONEERS &c. MELBOURNE Reverse: TASMANIA ANNO 1855

  • 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

    33 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.786 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    E. DeCarle & Co. arranged for three issues of trade token pennies. His first, as a grocer and spirit merchant (see NU 3679) was probably isssued in about 1853 - it was struck by Pope & Co with the same reverse die employed for the issue of I. Booth & Co (see NU 3569). His second issue was commissioned in 1855 from Heaton & Sons, Birmingham or W.J. Taylor of London featured a lion and seated Justice (NU 3677). His final issue, also of 1855 has a seated figure of Tasmania on the reverse although it was struck for him as a Melbourne auctioneer (this token). There is also a rare pattern for this final issue which featured a portrait of Lord Raglan (not held).
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 105
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 61
    [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. 60

  • Keywords

    Auctioneers, Gold