Summary

Copper one Penny Token, minted by Stokes of Melbourne. 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.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

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. It is an original strike.

Obverse Description

Across centre, H.J. HALL around above and below, CHRISTCHURCH COFFEE MILLS worn at centre, stop after H is square.

Reverse Description

Across centre, H.J. HALL around above and below, FAMILY GROCER : WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT :

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    circa 1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Henry J Hall - Christchurch Coffee Mills, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, circa 1862

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1862

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • 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

    03

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.886 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 Stokes late strike for details of Taylor's products, referred to in the catalogues as 'with bars' see NU 3781. Die identification is the basis of standard references and the museum storage system. This is a Stokes product 'without bars' the dies are: Obverse H.J. HALL Stops after H.J. G 26.1 mm round H 23.2 mm square Reverse H.J. HALL Stops after H.J. Other 7 23.0 mm round J tilted left L of HALL above middle of N 8 23.8 mm round 9 23.0 mm round J upright L of HALL to bottom on N 10 22.0 mm round 11 22.0 mm square
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 177
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 92/3
    [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