Summary

Copper one Penny Token, minted by W.J.Taylor of London or Heaton & Sons of Birmingham. Issued by T. Butterworth & Co, Drapers, Grocers & General Provision Merchants in Castlemaine, circa 1858. Although this business is named for an individual it was in fact run by four Butterworth brothers, Thomas, Robert, Benjamin and John. The brothers purchased their business from Messrs Sargood and Gardner, around 1856. The brothers were noted for conduct befitting successful men of their time, and involved themselves in the life of their community. Tom and Ben played Cricket for the Australian squad that played against the touring English Eleven in 1863, and Ben represented Victoria on several occasions during the 1860s. They were noted in the 1863 Victorian Cricketers Guide as batsmen and capable fielders. As activity at Castlemaine decreased, the brothers recognised the decline of their prospects and moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, sometime between 1862 and 1864, where their store was said to be thriving in 1910.

Previous Collections: Hon. William M.K. Vale

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: T. Butterworth & Co., 1 Forest St. Castlemaine, wine & spirit merchants, wholesale & retail grocers & drapers. Heavy scratch on reverse.

Obverse Description

.T.BUTTERWORTH & Co. / 1 / FOREST / STREET / CASTLEMAINE The numeral 1 is 4.1 mm tall, border of 135 beads

Reverse Description

At centre, WINE / & / SPIRIT / MERCHANTS around, WHOLESALE & RETAIL GROCERS & DRAPERS * Heavy scratch from C of MERCHANTS to rim near 06.

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Sustainable Futures, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Honourable William M. Vale JP, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1858 AD

  • Issued By

    Butterworth, T.& Co, Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, circa 1858

  • Mint

    W.J.Taylor, Mint, London, England, Great Britain, circa 1858
    May have been the work of Heaton & Sons

  • Previous Collection

    Honourable William M. Vale JP

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse:T. BUTTERWORTH & Co. 1 FOREST STREET CASTLEMAINE Reverse: WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS WHOLESALE & RETAIL GROCERS & DRAPERS

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 15.893 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Two obverse dies were needed to complete the Butterworth orders for tokens. They are most easily identified by the height of the numeral 1 of the address and the bead count around the rim: Obverse height of 1 Border Beads A 4.1 mm 135 B 3.4 mm 128 Both obverse dies were used with a reverse giving details of the company business, Reverse 1 and in 1859 with a reverse depicting a seated figure of Justice, Reverse 2. This token was struck with the die combination A/1. This work has normally been associated with W.J. Taylor in London but Heaton & Son may also have produced this reverse type.
    [Article] Sharples, John P. 1993. A Catalogue of the Trade Tokens of Victoria 1848 to 1862. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. vol.7: p.1-77., V. 18
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 32/1
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 51

  • Keywords

    Drapers, Grocers, Retailing, Shops, Spirits, Wholesale Trade, Wine & Spirit Merchants