Summary

Bronze One Penny Token, a late strike, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, circa 1918. First issued by Stead Bros, Grocers & Seedsmen, Bendigo, Victoria, 1862. The three Stead brothers came to Victoria in the early 1850s from Leeds in England. They established themselves as 'fruiterers, grocers and produce merchants' in Bendigo soon afterwards. The brothers were active in their business through the 1860s. Between 1862 and 1864 they maintained a store at in Melbourne, as well as their main shop in Bendigo. From 1865 they were using H. Box & Co.'s premises as their Melbourne address. John Stead ran the Bendigo side of the business, his brothers looking after the Melbourne depot. The brothers ran a number of teams between the two cities. The Steads also kept something of a menagerie, which was not always kept under control. It is recorded that their magpie escaped and a five [pound] reward was offered. Then, their monkey escaped and the local paper reported: That embodiment of mischief, 'Stead's Monkey', managed yesterday to slip his chain and occassioned considerable amusement to a large crowd by his agility and cunning in avoiding his intending captors.'

Physical Description

A round bronze token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: Stead Bros., Pall Mall, Sanhurst (Bendigo), grocers & seedsmen. The reverse features a coat of arms. This token has been varnished

Obverse Description

STEAD BROTHERS / FRUITERERS / GROCERS / & SEEDSMEN / PALL MALL / SANDHURST

Reverse Description

Stokes stock Arms (And.13) rim chipped 08-09 & rusted

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

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Stead Brothers, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), circa 1918

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: STEAD BROTHERS FRUITERERS GROCERS & SEEDSMEN PALL MALL SANDHURST Reverse: VICTORIA 1862 T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. MELBOURNE

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Bronze

  • Axis

    06

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Late strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.119 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Gardner, F., Trade tokens and the firms who issued them, The Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal, 30 March 1912, p. 10 (photocopy); Public Records Office of Victoria internet index of Unassisted Immigrants to Victoria, 1852 - 1923, VPRS 7666; Sharples, J., "Catalogue of Victorian Trade Tokens' in Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia, Vol. 7, December 1993, p.19; Advertisement, The Bendigo Advertiser, 4 July 1862, p.1;
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 503
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 67
    [Article] Sharples, John P. 1993. A Catalogue of the Trade Tokens of Victoria 1848 to 1862. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. vol.7: p.1-77.

  • Keywords

    Late Strikes