Summary

Copper one Penny token, minted by Thomas Stokes of Melbourne, circa 1862. Issued by Thomas Stokes, Diesinker, Token Maker & Medallist, Melbourne. This token is one of the large number of anonymous tokens struck by Stokes late in 1862. Anonymous issues were manufactured employing two stock dies. Thomas Stokes migrated to Australia in search of gold in the 1850s, being unsuccessful he returned to his trade as a die-maker and button maker. In 1857 Stokes acquired a press from W.J. Taylor and began to mint large numbers of tradesmen's tokens. He also commenced the Australian Medallic Issues. In 1873 Stokes took a partner, Martin, and the business was re-named Stokes & Martin. In 1893 a disastrous fire damaged a large portion of the business, Martin had forgotten to renew the fire insurance policy, and the partnership was dissolved as a result. Stokes rebuilt the business as Stokes & Son. The business became a proprietary concern in 1911, re-named Stokes & Son Pty Ltd. In 1935 the business moved to Brunswick, and in 1962 Stokes became a public company, renamed Stokes (Australasia) Pty Ltd. Today the business is located in Ringwood.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name and address of the mint (& issuer?): Thomas Stokes, 100 Collins St. East, Melbourne. The reverse is a stock Arms die featuring 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 AUSTRALIA. 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 and vertical lines, hatched around the stars. 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 token is a little worn and has been cleaned with the reverse partly re-toning dark green.

Obverse Description

At centre in three lines, 100 / COLLINS ST. / EAST ; around above * THOMAS STOKES MAKER; around below, MELBOURNE. Border of 135 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 AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is shaded vertical and horitontal but there is no hatching around the stars. 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 T of T. STOKES above the first L of COLLINS and the T EAST is below the first stroke of the A of MAKER. The standard references for this die are Andrews 12 = Heyde Arms 4 = Sharples Arms 1.

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, 11 Jan 1978

  • Date Issued

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: THOMAS STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE Reverse: VICTORIA . 1862 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE

  • 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), 15.265 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    It is uncertain if these tokens were manufactured by Stokes to place into circulation directly or to wholesale to retailers. The issues with stock obverse and reverse were apparently made for the Melbourne & Hobsons Bay Railway whenever they needed small change - these, although bearing Stokes name and address may have been for the same purpose. Stokes products which do not carry the name of an issuer but only reference to Stokes itself, are divided into four series: Series 1: has the wording T. STOKES or THOMAS STOKES MAKER MELBOURNE around the address in three lines 100 COLLINS ST. EAST plus one die where the central wording is ONE PENNY TOKEN in two lines. Series 2: has a description of the types of product, eg. BUTTON CHECK & TOKEN MAKER, around the name and address of the company, T. STOKES 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. All but one die in this series has a line circle between the name and address and the products. Series 3: employs Stokes stock reverse dies for both sides of the token. In all cases one side has a Vine type, this is therefore called the obverse. Series 4: has an obverse legend in eight lines with the first, T. STOKES, and last, MELBOURNE, curved. This token belongs to Series 1 with Obverse C. Within this series there were three obverse dies, one dedicated reverse and a use of Stock Reverses. Obverse A T. STOKES MAKER MELBOURNE ONE PENNY TOKEN Obverse B: THOMAS STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE (EAST 9.8 long, border 144 beads) Obverse C: THOMAS STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE (EAST 11 mm long, border 135 beads) For quick visual recognition of obverses B anc C: on obverse B the T of ST. is aligned with the letters ER of MAKER while on obverse C it is aligned with the letters KE. Obverse C has only been recorded with Stock reverses, in this case Arms 1. Reverse 1 has the legend: DIE SINKER SEAL ENGRAVER LETTER CUTTER CHECK & TOKEN MAKER
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 508
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 232/7
    [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. 137

  • Keywords

    Wholesale Trade