Summary

Copper Halfpenny Token, minted by W.J. Taylor, London. Issued by D.T. Mulligan, Queensland Stores, Rockhampton, 1863. It is likely that Mulligan opened his 'Queensland Stores' in either 1862 or 1863, after the discovery of Copper and Gold at nearby Peak Downs. The Early History of Rockhampton includes the following comment about Mulligan and his tokens: 'Copper (coins) were even harder to get than Silver and several of the leading business people had copper tokens struck, which were accepted as pennies, while at the same time they served as advertisements. The late Mr D.J [sic] Mulligan circulated a large number of these tokens, which remained in use for ten or fifteen years.' Mulligan is said to have 'sold out to H.F. Walton, and retired to Ireland, where he died.' (Rockhampton City Council, personal correspondence).

Standard References: Andrews 394 = Heyde 190/1

Physical Description

A round bronze token (28 mm diameter). The token features the name and address of the issuer: D.T. Mulligan, Queensland Stores Rockhampton. The reverse features a Coat of Arms consisting of a central shield below a Rising Sun supported by an emu at left and kangaroo at right all resting on a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered and contains: upper left - a golden fleece; upper right - a three-masted sailing ship; lower left - a bull standing facing left; lower right a anchor. Below is the date 1863.

Obverse Description

QUEENSLAND STORES / ROCKHAMPTON / D.T.MULLIGAN die cracks from rim to M of ROCKHAMPTON.

Reverse Description

At centre Coat of Arms consisting of a central shield below a Rising Sun supported by an emu at left and kangaroo at right all resting on a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered and contains: upper left - a golden fleece; upper right - a three-masted sailing ship; lower left - a bull standing facing left; lower right a anchor.; above, QUEENSLAND; below, 1863

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Royal Melbourne Mint Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978

  • Date Issued

    1863 AD

  • Issued By

    D T. Mulligan - Queensland Stores, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 1863

  • Mint

    W.J.Taylor, Mint, London, England, Great Britain, 1863

  • Previous Collection

    Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: QUEENSLAND STORES ROCKHAMPTON D.T.MULLIGAN Reverse: QUEENSLAND 1863 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA

  • Denomination

    Halfpenny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Bronze

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - queensland, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    28 mm (Outside Diameter), 8.22 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    These tokens were manufactured in London by the firm of W.J. Taylor. He employed two slightly different obverse dies in manufacturing Mulligand halfpenny order. The standard references and the museum's storage system are based on the die combination employed to make a particular token. Only one reverse die has been noted, Reverse 1. Obverse A has been allocated to Mulligan's penny issue. The halfpennies were struck with Obverse B (which broke over much of the working face) and obverse C. The two obverse dies can be difficult to tell apart if the die is not in a cracked state. If there are die cracks it is obverse B which also has the M of MULLIGAN was re-entered and the word ROCKHAMPTON 20.0 mm long, while on obverse C the M is not re-entered and ROCKHAMPTON is 20.7 mm long. This token was struck with the die combination B/2
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 394
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 190/1