Summary

Brass One Penny Cast Token, possibly created by Whitty, circa 1860. Based on Penny Token issued by Flavelle Bros, Opticians & Jewellers, Sydney. Cast trade tokens are probably best all considered counterfeits. Exceptions might be cast examples of the Whitty & Brown trade tokens. Whitty was a brass founder, Brown and engraver. After dissolution of their partnership, Whitty continued to produce crudely cast pieces which were accepted as currency equally with struck tokens "the public being not in the least particular"' Dr. Mark Long. Spinks' Numismatic Circular Sept. 1898 - as quoted in Heyde p. 85.

Henry Flavelle joined George Brush in an optician and jeweller's business, Flavelle and Brush, in 1840. Brush left the business in 1850 and Flavelle brought in his brother John. By 1855 the brothers were sufficiently prosperous to extend their premises and open a branch in Brisbane. In 1868 the brothers were joined in partnership by John Roberts and the company became known as Flavelle Roberts and Co. The partners' sons were also involved in the business and the premises were expanded. By 1900 the business was both well known and well respected as manufacturer of jewellery. In 1926 another partner, Robert Sankey, joined the company. The business survived until the Great Depression, finally closing in 1932. Among the last products of their workshops were medals commemorating the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Physical Description

A crude brass casting of a round token (33 mm dia) featuring the name, address and business of the company Flavelle Bros. & Co. Sydney and Brisbane, Opticians and Jewellers. The reverse depicts an emu and kangaroo facing on a grassy field.

Obverse Description

At centre between two plain scrolls, ONE / PENNY; around, curved below, OPTICIANS & JEWELLERS; around, FLAVELLE BROs. & Co. . SYDNEY & BRISBANE .

Reverse Description

Emu on left facing kangaroo on right

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • 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 1860 AD

  • Issued By

    Australia, 1855-1865

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: FLAVELLE BROs. & Co. ONE PENNY SYDNEY & BRISBANE OPTICIANS & JEWELLERS Reverse: W.J.TAYLOR LONDON

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Brass

  • Axis

    06

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - new south wales, Circulating casts

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    33 mm (Outside Diameter), 12.56 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Cast trade tokens are probably best all considered counterfeits. Exceptions might be cast examples of the Whitty & Brown trade tokens - 'Whitty was a brass founder, Brown and engraver. After dissolution of their partnership, Whitty continued to produce crudely cast pieces which were accepted as currency equally with struck tokens "the public being not in the least particular"' Dr. Mark Long. Spinks' Numismatic Circular Sept. 1898 - as quoted in Heyde p. 85. The Advance Australia type by Whitty & Brown was copied from an anonymous W.J.Taylor of London issue and occurs both struck and cast. How one should classify a cast example of an unauthorised copy of an anonymous unofficial trade token is interesting.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., cf No.125
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., cf No.72/1

  • Keywords

    Counterfeits