Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Originally issued by R.B. Ridler, Wholesale & Retail Butcher, Richmond, Victoria, 1862. Robert Broom Ridler was an Englishman, born in Devonshire in 1825. He arrived in Victoria in about 1852. He took a position as salesman with Mr. Butler in the shop which shortly afterwards became his own, in Richmond. By 1856 Ridler was running the shop in his own name. In 1857 Ridler married Sophia Wild, later having eleven children. He sold his business to a Mr Brockman in 1877 and retired to Dandenong, where he died in 1898.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) with the name, address and business of the issuer: R.B. Ridler 187 Bridge Road, Richmond, wholesale and retail butcher. The reverse is a Stokes stock Emu: At centre an emu standing facing left in front of a rising sun with thirteen long light rays. Below on a scroll the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (without the spread bouquet of rose thistle and shamrock emerging below scroll that occurs on other stock emu dies). Around above, VICTORIA . 1862, around below in two lines, T. STOKES _ MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. This token has been counterstamped horizontal and vertical on the obverse with "J. COVERLID", it is cleaned and varnished.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle in five lines (the first and last curved) , R.B. RIDLER / 187 / BRIDGE / ROAD / RICHMOND; around, WHOLESALE & RETAIL BUTCHER :

Reverse Description

At centre an emu standing facing left in front of a rising sun with thirteen long light rays. Below on a scroll the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (without the spread bouquet of rose thistle and shamrock emerging below scroll that occurs on other stock emu dies). Around above, VICTORIA . 1862, around below in two lines, T. STOKES _ MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. Border of 122 beads, the beak of the emu is cut by the 6th ray. It is numbered in the standard catalogues as: Sharples Emu 1 = Heyde Emu 1 = Andrews 17.

Edge Description

Plain

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