Summary
Copper One Penny Token, minted by Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by the Alliance Tea Co, Christchurch, 1866. The Alliance Tea Company of Christchurch was perhaps 'one of the earliest businesses in Christchurch,' (Canterbury, 1950). The token advertises a wide range of groceries for sale at the store, beyond just tea, including 'Italian Warehouse Fancy Goods...Coffees, Fruits and Spices.'
Physical Description
A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The piece features the name, address and business of the issuer: Alliance Tea Company, Italian Warehouse, opposite the Bank of New Zealand dealers in Fancy Goods, teas, coffees, spices and fruit.
Obverse Description
Legend in seven lines, the first curved around the rim; ALLIANCE TEA COMPANY / OPPOSITE / BANK OF / NEW ZEALAND / ROBERT THOMPSON / MANAGER / 1866
Reverse Description
At centre in four lines, ITALIAN / WAREHOUSE / FANCY / GOODS around, TEAS COFFEES FRUITS & SPICES . 1866 .
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Numismatics & Philately, Sustainable Futures, Working Life & Trades
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Mr Alfred Chitty, 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1866 AD
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Issued By
Alliance Tea Company, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, 1866
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Mint
Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1866
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Person Named
Mr Robert Thompson - Alliance Tea Company, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, 1866
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: ALLIANCE TEA COMPANY OPPOSITE THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND ROBERT THOMPSON MANAGER 1866 Reverse: ITALIAN WAREHOUSE FANCY GOODS TEAS COFFEES FRUITS & SPICES 1866
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Denomination
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Series
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Material
Copper
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
34 mm (Outside Diameter), 14.765 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
Although two obverse and two reverse dies were employed for this issue, only two forms of the token are recorded: A/1 and B/2. Die identification is the basis of standard references and the museum storage system. The dies are: Obverse border line along bases of ZEALAND A denticles to Y B beads between NY Reverse FANCY decorative point on lower back of G from GOODS 1 16.5 mm between TE 2 17.2 mm to T
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 7
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 7/1
[Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes., No. 301
[Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.
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Keywords
Coffee, Fancy Goods, Retail Trade, Retailing, Spice Trade, Tea
