Summary

New Zealand Christchurch
W. Pratt Token Penny, c. 1864 - 1872
Mint: Uncertain, probably British

Standard References: Andrews 443 = Heyde 212/1 = Lampard 339
Other Details: Pratt was a draper and clothier. This token was struck with the die combination A/1, see References for details of die identification. Tokens were demonetised in New Zealand on 25 March 1897.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: W. Pratt Dunsrable House, Cashel Street Christchurch, importer of linen drapery and clothing. It gives the date of the foundation of the firm, 1854. This token has been cleaned and varnished.

Obverse Description

Legend in eight lines, WILLIAM PRATT / DIRECT / IMPORTER / OF / EVERY DESCRIPTION / OF LINEN / DRAPERY / AND / CLOTHING

Reverse Description

Legend in five lines: DUNSTABLE HOUSE / ESTABLISHED / 1854 / CASHEL STREET / CHRISTCHURCH

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Clothing & Textiles, Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Mr Alfred Chitty, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1864-1872 AD

  • Issued By

    William Pratt, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, 1864-1872

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: WILLIAM PRATT DIRECT IMPORTER OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF LINEN DRAPERY AND CLOTHING Reverse: DUNSTABLE HOUSE ESTABLISHED 1854 CASHEL STREET CHRISTCHURCH

  • 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), 13.465 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Andrews 443 = Heyde 212/1 = Lampard 339 -The Canterbury Branch of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand. They Made their Own Money: The Story of Early Canterbury Traders & their Tokens. 1950: pp.46 - 55. The Pratt issue of penny tokens required three obverse and three reverse dies for it's production. Identification of the die combination employed to make a particular token is the key to both the standard references and the museum storage system. The dies can be recognised by: Obverse Y of EVERY 1st I of DESCRIPTION A over IN over AP B over IN over A C over I over AP Reverse C of CHRISTCHURCH 1st T of STREET T to 1 of date 1 below A above RC 2.4 mm 2 below C above R 2.5 mm 3 below C above R 3.0 mm
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins.
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand.
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes.
    [Book] The Canterbury Branch of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand. 1950. They Made their Own Money: The Story of Early Canterbury Traders & their Tokens. 94.
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Clothing Trade, Drapers, Import Trade, Linen