Summary

New Zealand Auckland
United Service Hotel Token Penny 1874 (AD)
Mint: Uncertain British
Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria
Standard References: Andrews 590 = Heyde 257/1 = Lampard 344
Other Details: This token was struck with the die combination A/1, see References for details of die identification. Tokens were demonetised in New Zealand on March 25, 1897.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: United Service Hotel, corner of Queen and William Streets, Auckland. The reverse features a profile head of Queen Victoria and the date 1874.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle, UNITED SERVICE / HOTEL around above, CORNER QUEEN & WELLESLEY STREETS around below, AUCKLAND N.Z. The words UNITED SERVICE are in a straight line above the word HOTEL.

Reverse Description

Head of young Queen Victoria facing left; around, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1874

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    1874 AD

  • Issued By

    United Service Hotel, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, 1874

  • Previous Collection

    Numismatics Collection, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), pre 1976

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: UNITED SERVICE HOTEL CORNER QUEEN & WELLESLEY STREETS AUCKLAND N.Z. Reverse: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1874

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 16.194 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Andrews 590 = Heyde 257/1 = Lampard 344 The United Service Hotel issue of penny tokens required two obverse and one reverse dies for it's production. Identification of the die combination employed to make a particular token is the key to both the standard references and the museum storage system. The dies can be recognised by: Obverse UNITED SERVICE A in straight line 21.5 mm long B in curved line 20.0 mm long The following die combinations have been recorded: A/1 (this token), B/1
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins.
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand.
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes.
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Hotels