Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by George Nichols, Bookseller & Stationer, Melbourne, 1862. George Nichols, bookseller, stationer and printer, appears in a Melbourne directory for the first time in 1855. In that year he took out a full page advertisement in Butterfield's 1855 Melbourne Directory, stating that 'G. Nichols Begs to inform his numerous friends and customers that he has REMOVED from the WESTERN MARKET to the very commodious premises adjoining the Clarendon Hotel, Great Collins Street, Directly opposite the Western Market, Where the chief requirements in the Business of a Bookseller and Stationer will constantly be in Stock, to supply the wants of his customers. G.N. relies confidently upon his reasonable charges and long experience in the trade, for obtaining an extension of support in his new premises. He respectfully solicits an inspection of his stock comprising amongst other goods, a large stock of the following, viz.:- Ledgers, Journals, Invoice books, Day Books, Cash Books, Letter Books, Papers.'

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: George Nichols, opposite corner to Post Office Melbourne, bookseller and stationer. The reverse is a Stokes stock Arms.

Obverse Description

At centre within line circle, GEORGE NICHOLS / OPPODITE / CORNER / TO / POST / OFFICE ; around, BOOKSELLER & STATIONER : 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 AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is shaded with horizontal and vertical lines, hatched around the stars. 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 T of T. STOKES above the first OL of COLLINS and the T EAST is below the MA of MAKER.

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    George Nichols, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: GEORGE NICHOLS OPPOSITE CORNER TO POST OFFICE BOOK SELLER & STATIONER MELBOURNE Reverse: VICTORIA 1862 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    06

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.311 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    -Gardner, F.. "Trade tokens and the firms who issued them." The Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal. 28 February 1911: pp.11 - 12 (photocopy); -Sharples, J.. 'Catalogue of Victorian Trade Tokens.' Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. Vol. 7. December 1993: p. 52; -Public RecordsOffice of Victoria internet index of Unassisted Immigrants to Victoria, 1852 - 1923, VPRS 7666; -Advertisement. Butterfield's Melbourne Commercial and General Melbourne Directory for 1855: unnumbered page; -Hope, John, Biography of George Nichols. Unpublished MSS. 2005: 1pp. Sharples JNAA.7 p. 52 in error, the reverse Arms 2 cracked above IA (this medal) not Arms 3 as stated (NU 4175).
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 404
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 195/2
    [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. 118

  • Keywords

    Booksellers, Retail Trade, Retailing, Stationery