Item NU 4429 Token - 1 Penny, J. Taylor, Bread & Biscuit Baker, Family Grocer, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1862

Summary

Copper One Penny Token minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by J. Taylor, Bread & Biscuit Baker, Family Grocer, Ballarat, 1862. John Taylor was a baker in England, and arrived in Australia in 1852. He finally decided to settle in Ballarat, where he built a bakery and named it the 'Red House', developing a turnover of £20,000 a year. In 1863 he rebuilt his works and from that time on he placed the Governor's crest on his advertisements. His range of goods included biscuits, boiled sugars, and lozenges. In 1867 Taylor opened a second store, it was a Retail Confectionery Establishment, providing Fruit, Pastry, Confectionery, Biscuits and Wedding Cakes. Economic conditions in the mid 1870s led Taylor to close his shop and take up farming at Boort for seven years. He resumed his work in 1881, again establishing a very solid business. After his retirement he passed the business on to his son Robert, who was still managing it in 1910.

Physical Description

A round bronze token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: J. Taylor, Red House, corner of Danna and Raglan Streets, Ballarat, bread and biscuit baker, family grocer. The reverse features a 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 VICTORIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is not shaded. 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. This is from a Stokes stock Arms die - Sharples Arms 6 = Heyde Arms 5 = Andrews 13)

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle, J.TAYLOR / RED HOUSE / CORNER OF / DANNA & RAGLAN / STREETS / BALLARAT; around, BREAD & BISCUIT BAKER FAMILY GROCER; border of 113 beads.

Reverse Description

At centre 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 BALLARAT. 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 (perhaps representing blue) and vertical lines (perhaps representing red) which cross in the middle behind the star. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, crossed pick and shovel (mining tools); and bottom right, a wheat sheaf; around, VICTORIA, 1862 T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE ADVANCE VICTORIA, border of 114 beads. This is from a Stokes stock Arms die - Sharples Arms 6 = Heyde Arms 5 = Andrews 13.

Edge Description

plain