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 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 111 beads. This is a Stokes stock reverse, used for many trade token issuers. It is numbered in the standard catalogues as: Sharples Vine 5 = Heyde Vine 4 = Andrews 4. The die is chipped above the letters TOR of VICTORIA . 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

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 111 beads. This is a Stokes stock reverse, used for many trade token issuers. It is numbered in the standard catalogues as: Sharples Vine 5 = Heyde Vine 4 = Andrews 4. The die is chipped above the letters TOR of VICTORIA .

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

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