Summary
Copper one Penny token, minted by Thomas Stokes of Melbourne, circa 1918. Originally issued by Thomas Stokes, Diesinker, Token Maker & Medallist, Melbourne, in 1862. This token is a late-strike of one of the large number of anonymous tokens struck by Stokes late in 1862. Anonymous issues were manufactured employing two stock dies. Thomas Stokes migrated to Australia in search of gold in the 1850s, being unsuccessful he returned to his trade as a die-maker and button maker. In 1857 Stokes acquired a press from W.J. Taylor and began to mint large numbers of tradesmen's tokens. He also commenced the Australian Medallic Issues. In 1873 Stokes took a partner, Martin, and the business was re-named Stokes & Martin. In 1893 a disastrous fire damaged a large portion of the business, Martin had forgotten to renew the fire insurance policy, and the partnership was dissolved as a result. Stokes rebuilt the business as Stokes & Son. The business became a proprietary concern in 1911, re-named Stokes & Son Pty Ltd. In 1935 the business moved to Brunswick, and in 1962 Stokes became a public company, renamed Stokes (Australasia) Pty Ltd. Today the business is located in Ringwood.
Physical Description
A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name and address of the mint: Thomas Stokes Check and Token Maker, 100 Collins St. East, Melbourne. The reverse features a Stokes stock wheatsheaf: At centre a wheat sheaf tied with a cord 4.7 mm long, above, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA; below, 1862 border of 114 beads. (Stock reverse Andrews type 21 = Heyde Sheaf 1 = Sharples Sheaf 1)
Obverse Description
Legend in six lines with the first and last curved around the rim: [CHECK] & TOKEN MAKER / THOMAS STOKES / 100 / COLLINS ST. / EAST / MELBOURNE. The work CHECK is lost from the die due to a large edge break.
Reverse Description
At centre a wheat sheaf tied with a cord 4.7 mm long, above, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA; below, 1862 border of 114 beads. (Stock reverse Andrews type 21 = Heyde Sheaf 1 = Sharples Sheaf 1)
Edge Description
Plain
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
circa 1918 AD
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Issued By
Thomas Stokes, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Mint
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Previous Collection
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Inscriptions
Obverse: THOMAS STOKES [CHECK &] TOKEN MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE Reverse: ADVANCE AUSTRALIA 1862
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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), 15.335 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
[Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 520
[Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 71/2
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Keywords