Summary

Copper Halfpenny token minted by the Kangaroo Office, Melbourne. Issued by Thrale & Cross, Family Grocers, Melbourne, circa 1954. This was one of the earliest tokens manufactured in Melbourne at the Kangaroo Office mint. The Thrale & Cross obverse dire (manufactured in Melbourne from a blank die brought from London) was used with two Kangaroo Office stock reverse dies (manufactured by Taylor in London and shipped to Australia on the Kangaroo) probably in late 1854 to manufacture trade token halfpenny pieces. Reginald Scaife, manager of the Kangaroo Office lived in North Melbourne, it is possible that Thrale & Cross was his personal family grocer. This token features the seated Australia reverse.

Physical Description

A copper trade token halfpenny (28 mm diameter) featuring the name address and business of the issuer: Thrale & Cross, Howard St. North Melbourne, family grocer and egg powder store. This token is uncirculated with near full mint lustre. The reverse is a stock die featuring 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.

Obverse Description

The name, address and business of the firm in seven lines, the first and last curved to form a border: . THRALE & CROSS / FAMILY GROCER / & / EGG POWDER / STORE / HOWARD ST NORTH MELBOURNE .

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

Significance

This was one of the earliest tokens manufactured in Melbourne by the Kangaroo Office. The Thrale & Cross obverse was used with two Kangaroo Office stock reverse probably in late 1854 to manufacture trade token halfpenny pieces. Reginald Scaife, manager of the Kangaroo Office lived in North Melbourne, it is possible that Thrale & Cross was his personal family grocer. This token features a representation of Australia as a woman seated on a rock and extending an olive branch.

More Information