Item NU 4396 Token - 1 Penny, Thomas Stokes, Diesinker, Token Maker & Medallist, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

Summary

Copper one Penny token, minted by Thomas Stokes of Melbourne, circa 1862. Issued by Thomas Stokes, Diesinker, Token Maker & Medallist, Melbourne. This token is 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) giving the name and address of the mint in small letters but no name of an issuer : T. Stokes, 100 Collins St. East, Melbourne. The obverse (so called as all 'anonymous' issues by Stokes have a version of it) is the stock Vine: at centre within a line circle a piece of grape vine with nine large leaves and two bunches of grapes; around above, VICTORIA 1862, around below the Latin IN VINO VERITAS. The reverse is from a stock Arms die: Coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and on right emu with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is not shaded. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA 1862 and around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. This token has been cleaned.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle a piece of grape vine with nine large leaves and two bunches of grapes; around above, VICTORIA 1862, around below the Latin IN VINO VERITAS. Border of 112 beads. This is a Stokes stock reverse, used for many trade token issuers. It is from a Stokes stock die numbered in the standard catalogues as: Sharples Vine 4 = Heyde Vine 2 = Andrews 2.

Reverse Description

Coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and on right emu with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is not shaded. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA 1862 and around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. The T of EAST is below the letter A of MAKER and the T. of T. STOKES above LL. There is no stop between VICTORIA and the date. It is struck from a Stokes stock die numbered in the standard references as Sharples Arms 7 = Heyde Arms7 = Andrews 15

Edge Description

Plain