Summary
Australia Victoria Melbourne
Crombie Clapperton & Findlay Token Halfpenny c.1854 (AD)
Mint: Reginald Scaife, Kangaroo Office
Standard References: Andrews 84 = Heyde 50/1 = Sharples V.53
Physical Description
A round copper token (28 mm diameter) giving the name and address of the issuer: Crombie Clapperton and Findlay, 41 West Lonsdale Street The token features on the reverse a kangaroo seated on its tail in grassy field facing right, around above, MELBOURNE; in exergue in four lines W.J. TAYLOR MEDALLIST TO THE GREAT EXHIBITION 1851. This is one of the stock reverse dies manufactured in London and brought to Melbourne on the Kangaroo in 1854. It suffered minor die rusting on the voyage between the letters LB of MELBOURNE. This token is damaged (perhaps an attempted holing), worn and has been cleaned.
Obverse Description
At centre, 41 / WEST / LONSDALE / STREET around, CROMBIE CLAPPERTON & FINDLAY -*-; the centre of the token is poorly struck up. Border of 157 beads. Cleaned and an attempt at holing near edge 05.
Reverse Description
Kangaroo seated on tail in grassy field facing right, around above, MELBOURNE; in exergue in four lines W.J. TAYLOR MEDALLIST / TO THE GREAT / EXHIBITION / 1851. Damage to rim and flattening of letters UR at 01.
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Numismatics & Philately, Public Life & Institutions, Working Life & Trades
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from Melbourne Branch of Royal Mint, 1978
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Date Issued
circa 1854 AD
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Issued By
Crombie Clapperton & Findlay, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854-1855
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Mint
Kangaroo Office (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1854-1855
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: CROMBIE CLAPPERTON & FINDLAY 41 WEST LONSDALE STREET Reverse: MELBOURNE W.J.TAYLOR, MEDALLIST TO THE GREAT EXHIBITION 1851
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Denomination
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Series
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Material
Copper
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Axis
06
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
28 mm (Outside Diameter), 7.137 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
Andrews 84 = Heyde 50/1 = Sharples V.53 Museum Victoria holds three of the stock kangaroo dies from the Kangaroo Office but none of them match the deterioration of this reverse. The date of issue of these tokens is derived from the time the press was available to strike them - late 1854 and the failure of the partnership, 1856.
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins.
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand.
[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.
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Keywords
