Summary
Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Miller Brothers, Coach Builders, Melbourne, 1862. William Miller, a 24 year-old native of Belfast in Northern Ireland, arrived in Australia in November 1857. On board with him was one Nancy Miller, aged 22. William was a coachbuilder, and continued in that trade in Melbourne. After a year or so his brothers, John, Hercules, William and George, joined him in Melbourne. In 1865 only three of the brothers were listed, John had apparently departed. In 1868 Hercules' was the only name associated with the business. In 1869 William returned to the business and was the sole person associated with the listing in 1870. William Miller left Melbourne, and started another coach building business, this time in Bendigo. He ran his business there for twenty years before returning to Melbourne and establishing business in South Melbourne.
Previous Collections: George McArthur
Physical Description
A round copper token giving the name address and business of the issuer: Miller Brothers, Melbourne, coach builders. It features a side view of a buggy on the obverse and Stokes stock arms reverse.
Obverse Description
At centre a buggy with COACH above and BUILDERS below; around, MILLER BROTHERS MELBOURNE
Reverse Description
Coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and on right emu with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is not shaded. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. The neck of the emu is poorly engraved with additional line to the left, the T of EAST is below the letters AK of MAKER.
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), George McArthur, 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1862 AD
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Issued By
Miller Brothers, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862
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Mint
Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: MILLER BROTHERS MELBOURNE COACH BUILDERS Reverse: VICTORIA 1862 ADVANCE VICTORIA T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE
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Denomination
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Series
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Material
Copper
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
34 mm (Outside Diameter), 15.451 g (Weight)
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Maximum dimensions
2 mm (Length), 34 mm (Width), 2 mm (Depth), 34 mm (Height), 34 mm (Outside Diameter)
Measurement From Conservation.
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Shape
Round
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References
Only one obverse die was needed to strike the series of trade tokens for Miller Brothers. It was combined with four of Stokes stock reverses. See Sharples JNAA 7 p. 50-1 for an analysis of the issue.
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 373
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 174
[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. 114
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Keywords
