Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Hodgson Bros, Grocers & Produce Merchants, Bendigo, 1862. Three brothers from Lancashire, Jonathan, Joseph, and Jesse Hodgson, established a pair of general stores on the Bendigo diggings in 1853, one at Sailor's Gully and the other at California Gully. Coming to the diggings early in the piece, they are reputed to have participated in prospecting for and establishing a number of mines in the district. They carried on business for some eighteen years, until Mr. Jonathan died about 1871, his brother Joseph following him some twelve or fifteen years later. Mr. Jonathan Hodgson was elected a member of the first Eaglehawk Borough Council directly after its proclamation as a municipality. Both he and Joseph married and left families in the district.

Physical Description

A round bronze token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: Hodgson Bros. Sailors Gully and Calefornia Gully, Bendigo, wholesale & retail grocers & produce merchants. The reverse features an emu standing in front of a rising sun from a Stokes stock die - Sharples Emu 3 = Heyde Emu 2 = Andrews 18 - it is dated 1862, stock dies were shared by many issuing firms. This token is cleaned and varnished.

Obverse Description

At centre, HODGSON BROS. / SAILORS / GULLY / & / CALEFORNIA / GULLY / BENDIGO; around, WHOLESALE & RETAIL GROCERS & PRODUCE MERCHANTS

Reverse Description

At centre an emu standing facing left on undulating grass plain in front of a rising sun with 15 long rays set upon a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (no flowers below ribbon). Around above, VICTORIA 1862; around below, T. STOKES MAKER. / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. Border of 110 beads. Stokes stock die - Sharples Emu 3 = Heyde Emu 2 = Andrews 18

Edge Description

Plain

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