Summary

Copper Halfpenny Token, minted by the Kangaroo Office in Melbourne, in 1854. It was issued by James Nokes, a Wholesale and Retail Grocer. Soon after issuing his tokens Nokes experienced monetary problems, and sold his grocery firm to T.W. Thomas & Co. who also issued halfpenny tokens employing the Hotham commemorative reverse.

The tokens were struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office, with dies prepared in Melbourne using steel die banks brought from England, on copper halfpenny blanks.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round copper token (28 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: James Nokes, Melbourne, grocer and on the reverse a stock reverse of the Kangaroo Office, Australia seated. Struck after the obverse die cracked.

Obverse Description

Legend in 3 lines (the first and last curved): JAMES NOKES / GROCER / MELBOURNE (Die cracked from rim to just below G of GROCER and from 09 to R)

Reverse Description

Australia seated on rock facing to left holding an olive branch extended in her right hand and resting a staff on her left forearm; above, AUSTRALIA

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    McArthur Bequest

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    1854 AD

  • Issued By

    James Nokes - James Nokes, Wholesale and Retail Grocer, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854

  • Mint

    Kangaroo Office (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: JAMES NOKES GROCER MELBOURNE Reverse: AUSTRALIA

  • Denomination

    Halfpenny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    28 mm (Outside Diameter), 7.378 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    This issue was struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office. The dies were prepared in Melbourne using steel die banks brought from England and struck on copper halfpenny blanks also brought out on the Kangaroo. The first issue had a commemorative reverse (the die has survived and is in the mueum collection NU 35977). Nokes sold his grocery firm to T.W. Thomas & Co. who also issued halfpenny tokens employing the Hotham commemorative reverse. This, second form of Nokes token, was struck with a stock seated Australia reverse. Three of these dies are in the museum collection.
    [Thesis] Lugton, Mary E. 1989. George McArthur of Maldon: his Life and his Book Collection.
    [Catalogue] Morrison, Ian. 2003. The Baker of Maldon.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 407
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 197
    [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. 120

  • Keywords

    Gold, Grocers, Retail Trade, Retailing