Summary

Bronze One Penny Token, minted by Todman, London. Issued by J. Hurley & Co, Wanganui, circa 1875. John Hurley migrated to New Zealand with his parents and siblings in 1842, at the age of 12. They settled in Wellington where his father, Alexander, ran a bakery on Lambton Quay. In 1853 John moved to Wanganui and opened his own bakery. His range of goods included bread, biscuits, confectionery and groceries; he also supplied ships. He married a local woman, Lorenna Cunnabel, on January 24, 1855 at Brunswick Station, a few miles from the town. They had four children. Hurley sold his business on the 8th of January 1857 to a wealthy local man, Mr Joseph Augustus Burnett. However in 1864 he bought it back. The same year Hurley's brother Henry arrived in Wanganui. An almanac advertisement from 1878 showed how John Hurley's business had expanded. As well as bread, biscuits and confectionery, he also listed wholesale and retail grocery and emphasised his ability to create wedding cakes. Hurley later built a much more substantial bakery, a two storey, double fronted wooden building with glass across the front.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round bronze token (31 mm diameter). The piece features the name, address and business of the issuer: J. Hurley & Co. confectioner, baker and grocer in Wanganui. The reverse features a seated female figure holding an anchor in her left hand and extending her right above bales, a bee-hive set on a stand through which an inverted cornucopiae spills fruit on the ground. To the right is a cliff with wheat sheaves at its base and on the left near the horizon of the sea, a three-masted sailing ship.

Obverse Description

Across centre between two lines, , J. HURLEY & Co. around, outside beaded circle, CONFECTIONERS BAKERS & GROCERS ESTABLISHED 1853, above name, SHIPPING / SUPPLIED below name, WANGANUI / NEW ZEALAND

Reverse Description

A seated female figure holding an anchor in her left hand and extending her right above bales, a bee-hive set on a stand through which an inverted cornucopiae spills fruit on the ground. To the right is a cliff with wheat sheaves at its base and on the left near the horizon of the sea, a three-masted sailing ship. In small letters against the rim above right and left of the exergue, TODMAN LONDON

Edge Description

Plain

More Information