Summary

Copper one Penny Token, mint unknown. Issued by W. B. Brookes, Ironmongers, Brisbane, Queensland, circa 1863. These tokens were possibly minted by Heaton and Sons in Birmingham, as it is known this firm ordered tokens from them in 1863.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name address and business of the issuer: W. & B. Brookes, Brisbane, Ironmonger and a coat of Arms with emu and kangaroo supporters and the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA .

Obverse Description

W. & B. BROOKES / IRONMONGERS / BRISBANE the first and last lines being curved and the letters plain

Reverse Description

Arms with supporters of emu (left) and kangaroo (right); motto on ribbon below arms, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA; above, QUEENSLAND; below, 1863

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

  • Date Issued

    1863 AD

  • Issued By

    W.& B. Brookes, Ironmongers, Brisbane, Greater Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1863

  • Previous Collection

    Eugene von Guerard, pre 1880

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: W. & B. BROOKES IRONMONGER BRISBANE Reverse: QUEENSLAND 1863 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA

  • 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), 19.08 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 NU 3577 and NU3575 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, this type.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 49
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 30