Summary

Issued: Tarragindi, Queensland, Australia

Copper vanity medal issued in 1984 inTarragindi, Queensland, by George D. Dean, numismatist and collector. It commemorates his collection of Coles Book Arcade tokens. George Dean wrote a book on the medals of Cole's Book Arcade.

Cole's Book Arcade opened in the Bourke Street Mall in 1883, after earlier operating from other sites. It was a shop like no other, crammed with new and second-hand books and other wares, but with the atmosphere of a circus. Cole enticed customers of all ages with a menagerie and fernery, a band, a clockwork symphonion and other mechanical delights. Readers could sit in comfortable chairs, encouraged by a sign: 'Read for as Long as You Like - Nobody Asked to Buy'. The Arcade's proprietor, Edward William Cole, was optimist and idealist, believing passionately in the power of education and envisaged a world without borders, expounding his views in pamphlets and books. Cole died in 1918, still dreaming of a better future. Cole's Book Arcade, one of the wonders of 'marvellous Melbourne', closed in 1929.

Physical Description

Unissued copper medal (32 mm diameter) providing details of George Dean's collecting interests and featuring E.W. Cole's tree fern and rainbow.

Obverse Description

Above rainbow, GEORGE D. DEAN / NUMISMATIST / & / COLLECTOR / 1964 - OF - 1984 / COLES BOOK ARCADE / TOKENS, MEDALS / MEMORABILIA below rainbow, 8 WOOLTIN ST. / TARRAGINDI / QLD. 4121

Reverse Description

On left side of tree fern, BE GOOD / DO GOOD / AND on right, YOU / WILL BE / HAPPY in small letters below tree fern, A.J.P.

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