Summary

Copper one Penny mule token, minted by W.J. Taylor of London. Commissioned in 1860 by Olof Hilmer Hedburg a merchant in Hobart, Tasmania. Hedburg was originally from Sweden but settled in Hobart in 1844 and became involved in the whaling industry. After the decline of the whaling industry in the mid-1850s, he opened a business as a produce merchant and commission agent in Argyle Street, Hobart, it is from this business his tokens were issued.

Hedberg's main issue was quite standard, being a penny and a halfpenny. However it is confused by the existence of a large number of patterns, mules and late strikes. The regular series of issued tokens had no pictorial element. A second group of penny token patterns offered a variety of forms of the seated Australia while the third group, provide a variety of mules in both penny and halfpenny denominations and should be considered late strikes.

The museum also holds a similar mule token with a Lipman Levy reverse. This mule token has been dated circa 1860 and is not necessarily W. J. Taylor's work, although he cast the original die.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name address and buisness of : O.H. Hedberg, Argyle St. Hobart Ton (sic), oil and color stores; combined with a portrait bust of Wellington with the Irish legend WELLINGTON & ERIN GO BRACH

Obverse Description

Across centre on two lines between bars, O.H. / HEDBERG around above, * OIL & COLOR STORES * around below, ARGYLE ST. HOBART TON

Reverse Description

A portrait bust of Wellington facing right, laureate and draped, around WELLINGTON & ERIN GO BRACH

Edge Description

Obverse: O.H. / HEDBERG OIL & COLOR STORES ARGYLE ST. HOBART TON Reverse: WELLINGTON & ERIN GO BRACH

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