Summary

Copper one Penny Token, mint unknown. Issued by Brookes, Ironmongers, Brisbane, Queensland, circa 1855. The first Brookes token issues had identicle designs on both sides so that the term obverse and reverse cannot be applied. There were three issues struck by an uncertain but probably local mint. The first employed ornamental letters for the words IRONMONGERS and BRISBANE, later dies were made with plain letters. It is likley that the firm W. & B. Brookes, Ironmongers of Brisbane is the same company, that ordered tokens from the Birmingham firm Heaton and Sons, in 1863.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (35 mm diameter). The token features the name address and business of the issuer: Brookes, Brisbane, Ironmonger on both sides. This token has been cleaned and varnished

Obverse Description

IRONMONGERS / BROOKS / BRISBANE the first and last lines being curved and the letters plain

Reverse Description

IRONMONGERS / BROOKS / BRISBANE the first and last lines being curved and the letters plain

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1855 AD

  • Issued By

    Brookes, Ironmongers, Brisbane, Greater Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, circa 1855

  • Previous Collection

    Numismatics Collection, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), pre 1976

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: IRONMONGERS BROOKS BRISBANE Reverse: IRONMONGERS BROOKS BRISBANE

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - queensland, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 18.971 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    The first Brookes token issues had identicle designs on both sides so that the term obverse and reverse cannot be applied. There were three issues struck by an uncertain but probably local mint. The first employed ornamental letters for the words IRONMONGERS and BRISBANE (see NU 3573) later dies were made with plain letters. Three such plain lettering dies were manufactured, see this token and NU 3577 for the two combinations of these dies. It is thought that the firm W. & B. Brookes, Ironmongers of Brisbane is the same company. In 1863 that company ordered tokens from the Birmingham firm Heaton and Sons, see 3578.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 48
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 29/1