Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by R. Grieve, Wholesale & Retail Grocers, Eaglehawk, Victoria, circa 1862. A native of Edinburgh, Grieve is thought to have migrated to Australia in 1852 or 1853. Grieve is thought to have worked for Dunn and Bayne in Eaglehawk from October 1853, managing that branch of their business from its opening. After some time he opened his own general store out of a canvas tent. When the land was subdivided into a township, he bought a block and built a substantial store there. Around 1865 he sold the business to his brother Thomas and moved to Melbourne. In Melbourne, Robert opened a store in South Melbourne. His manager was James Herschell. Between arriving in Melbourne and his retirement from active business in 1880, Grieve did well and opened several stores in the suburbs of South and Port Melbourne, making him one of the largest businessmen in that district.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: R. Grieve, wholesale and retail grocer, Eaglehawk. 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. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. The E of EAST is double entered (initially being placed half a letter height too low) and then T of EAST is below the M of MAKER.

Obverse Description

At centre, EAGLE/R.GRIEVE/HAWK around, WHOLESALE & RETAIL GROCER : border of 112 beads

Reverse Description

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. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. The E of EAST is double entered (initially being placed half a letter height too low) and then T of EAST is below the M of MAKER.

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Mr Alfred Chitty, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    R. Grieve - Wholesale and Retail Grocer, Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: R. GRIEVE EAGLE HAWK WHOLESALE & RETAIL GROCER Reverse: T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE ADVANCE VICTORIA

  • 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), 15.182 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    -Gardner, F.. "Trade tokens and the firms who issued them." The Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal. 31 May 1911: p.13 (photocopy); -PROV internet index to Unassisted Immigrants from British Ports, 1852 - 1923. VPRS 7666; -Sharples, J.. "Catalogue of Victorian Trade Tokens." Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. Vol. 7. December 1993: p. 23; -Sandhurst, Castlemaine, & Echuca Directoy for 1865 - 1866 (State Library of Victoria collection); -Advertisement. The Bendigo Advertiser. 2 August 1862: p.1; -Hope, John. Greive, R.. Unpublished MSS. 2005: 1pp. The obverse die employed to manufacture this token was used in the early Twentieth Century to strike pieces for collectors. The die is now in the museum collection (NU35780).
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 153
    [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. 27
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 86

  • Keywords

    Grocers, Retail Trade, Retailing, Wholesale Trade