Summary

Copper one Penny Token, minted by W.J. Taylor of London. Issued by Henry J. Hall, Christchurch, New Zealand, circa 1862. Henry Hall was a grocer, wine and spirit merchant and ran a coffee mill. He arranged for two mints to strike tokens, W.J. Taylor in London, and Stokes in Melbourne. Hall issued nineteen penny token varieties, and three halfpennies. They were very simply designed, with text and no graphic elements.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name and business of the issuer: H.J. Hall, Christchurch coffee mills, family grocer, wine and spirit merchant. This token has a heavy circular knock below the T of CHRISTCHURCH with associated damage on the reverse.

Obverse Description

Across centre between elongated diamond shaped bars, H.J. HALL around above and below, CHRISTCHURCH COFFEE MILLS the stops after H and J are square.

Reverse Description

Across centre between elongated diamond shaped bars, H.J. HALL around above and below, FAMILY GROCER : WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT :

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    William Howat Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Sustainable Futures, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Dr William Howat, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Henry J Hall - Christchurch Coffee Mills, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

  • Previous Collection

    Dr William Howat

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: H.J. HALL CHRISTCHURCH COFFEE MILLS Reverse: H.J. HALL FAMILY GROCER WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 14.45 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Hall employed two mints to strike his tokens, W.J. Taylor and Stokes. Both firms later meployed the dies to make restrikes and concoctions for collectors. This token is a Taylor strike for details of Stokes products, referred to in the catalogues as 'without bars' see NU 3788. Die identification is the basis of standard references and the museum storage system. This is a Taylor product 'with bars', the dies are: Obverse + to C of CHRIST E to M of MILLS Other B HENRY J. HALL ONE PENNY C 3.0 mm 3.0 mm D 2.0 mm 4.0 mm D2 as D but die deteriorated through rusting - may indicate a later strike E 2.1 mm 5.0 mm F 1.5 mm 4.0 mm Reverse Y to G of GROCER Other 4 2.0 mm
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 169
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 91/1
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes., No. 322i
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Coffee, Grocers, Retail Trade, Retailing, Wine & Spirit Merchants