Summary
Copper Halfpenny Token minted by J. Moore of Birmingham. Issued to promote Professor Holloway's pills and ointments in 1857, it has been surcharged B.
Holloway tokens are presumed to have been circulated worldwide throughout retailers of Holloway products. Holloway's tokens were produced in large numbers and have proven the most common token finds on Melbourne archaeological sites.
Physical Description
A round copper striking of a Professor Holloway token (28 mm diameter). The token features a profile head of Professor Holloway and a rendition of the classical goddess Hygeia (the ancient Greek goddess of health) seated looking at snake drinking from a cup she holds in her left hand, the snake is curled around a burning altar, an orb rests on altar on her right side. The legend promites Holloway's pills and ointments and gives the date 1858. This token has been surcharged B on both sides.
Obverse Description
Head of Professor Holloway facing left with J. MOORE (the maker's name) incuse on neck truncation; around, PROFESSOR HOLLOWAY; below, LONDON, surcharged B
Reverse Description
Hygeia (the ancient Greek goddess of health) seated looking at snake drinking from a cup she holds in her left hand, the snake is curled around a burning altar, an orb rests on altar on her right side, around; HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND OINTMENTS, in exergue, 1858. Surcharged B
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Medicine & Health, Numismatics & Philately, 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
circa 1858 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Commissioned By
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Place & Date Used
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: PROFESSOR HOLLOWAY LONDON J. MOORE surcharged B Reverse: HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND OINTMENTS 1858 surcharged B
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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
28 mm (Outside Diameter), 8.46 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
Holloway's tokens were struck in such large numbers that the minting technique of hubbing was clearly employed. In this a master tool, having the full appearance of the final token for the obverse and reverse is manufactured in steel. This is then used to prepare working dies. This technique makes the identification of individual dies from variations in rim bead counts or alignment of lettering impossible. Researchers have noted minor variations in the lowest relief areas of the tokens that may be the result of variations of quality of the die production off the hub (Heyde p. 49) or minor tooling.
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., cf No.1012
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand.
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Keywords
