Summary

Solomon and Samuel Lazarus came to Australia from London in 1853. They opened a shop in 1853, in the Queen's Arcade. Their holding increased over time, expanding to include shops on Lonsdale Street and large slabs of the Queen's Arcade. By 1861 the brothers had moved their store to Elizabeth Street, where they remained until 1863. Between 1864 and 1869 Lazarus Brothers were in Collins Street West. In 1865 a half page advertisement in Sands and McDougall's Melbourne directory demonstrates their range of goods: 'Stationery, Cutlery, German Silver and Plated Goods, Glass, China, & Earthenware, Basketware, Cabinetware, Perfumery, Games and Sports, Tobacconists' Sundries, Looking Glasses, Combs and Brushware, Musical Instruments, Berlin Wool and Fancy work, Toys, Dolls, &c., in endless variety.'

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: S & S. Lazarus, 29, 30, 31, 69, 70, 71 Queen's Arcade Melbourne, wholesale and retail fancy repository, importers of Birmingham and Sheffield ware, stationary etc. The token has no pictorial element. This token has green toning.

Obverse Description

Legend in 8 lines, S & S. LAZARUS / WHOLESALE / AND RETAIL / FANCY REPOSITORY / 29, 30, 31, 69, 70 & 71 / QUEEN'S / ARCADE / MELBOURNE

Reverse Description

Legend in 7 lines: IMPORTERS / OF / BIRMINGHAM / AND / SHEFFIELD / WARE / STATIONARY &c.

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, 1978

  • Date Issued

    circa 1858 AD

  • Issued By

    S & S Lazarus, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1852-1862

  • Mint

    W.J.Taylor, Mint, London, England, Great Britain, 1852-1862

  • Previous Collection

    Royal Mint, Melbourne Branch

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: S & S. LAZARUS WHOLESALE AND RETAIL FANCY REPOSITORY 29, 30, 31, 69, 70 & 71 QUEEN'S ARCADE MELBOURNE Reverse: IMPORTERS OF BIRMINGHAM AND SHEFFIELD WARE STATIONARY &c..

  • 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

    35 mm (Outside Diameter), 14.89 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    The issues of S & S. Lazarus are believed to have ben struck by W.J. Taylor in London. Three obverse and three reverse dies were employed on the work but there is no die linking. All were struck with the same die axis and to the same weight standard c. 15.2 g. See Sharples JNAA.7 p. 47-48 The three obverse dies can be visually determined by the relative positions of the comma after 69 and the apostrophe in QUEEN'S as well as by measurement: Die apostrophe QUEEN'S ARCADE A just right of comma 11.5 mm 12.0 mm B right of comma below 7 13.9 mm 12.6 mm C directly below comma 11.9 mm 13.0 mm The reverse dies can be difficult to identify. The second letter E in SHEFFIELD and the letter E in WARE are important both for the distance between the and their relative positions: Die E to E E of WARE 1 1 mm exactly below E
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 315
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 144/2
    [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. 106

  • Keywords

    Birmingham Ware, Fancy Goods, Retail Trade, Retailing, Sheffield Ware, Stationery, Wholesale Trade