Item NU 3834 Pattern Token - 1 Penny, O.H. Hedberg, Oil & Colour Stores, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, circa 1860

Summary

Copper one Penny Pattern token, minted by W.J. Taylor of London, circa 1860. It was struck with the die combination Hedberg Reverse 2 and a Taylor Seated Australia form without waves accross the front of the land on which the figure sits and no flags on the ship's masts. It may be a pattern, although the die is cracked below the extended arm of Australia. The British Museum received an example of this type in 1877.

Hedburg was originally from Sweden but settled in Hobart in 1844 and became involved in the whaling industry. After the decline of the whaling industry in the mid-1850s, he opened a business as a produce merchant and commission agent in Argyle Street, Hobart, it is from this business his tokens were issued.

Hedberg's main issue was quite standard, being a penny and a halfpenny. However it is confused by the existence of a large number of patterns, mules and late strikes. The regular series of issued tokens had no pictorial element. A second group of penny token patterns offered a variety of forms of the seated Australia while the third group, provide a variety of mules in both penny and halfpenny denominations and should be considered late strikes.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name, address and business of : O.H. Hedberg, Swedish House, Hobart Ton (sic), together with the denomination. This was used as the reverse on Hedberg's standard issue. The reverse in this case is a figure of Australia seated on rock facing to left holding an olive branch extended in her right hand and resting a staff on her left forearm; above, AUSTRALIA. There are no waves extending across the front of the land on which she sits to forms the exergue line and no flags on the ship masts. The mint name, W.J. TAYLOR LONDON is in the ground at the top of the exergue line on either side.

Obverse Description

Across centre in two lines, ONE / PENNY around above, * O.H. HEDBERG * around below, SWEDISH HOUSE HOBART TON

Reverse Description

Australia seated on rock facing to left holding an olive branch extended in her right hand and resting a staff on her left forearm; above, AUSTRALIA. No pattern of waves extends across the front of the land on which she sits and there are no flags on the ship masts. The mint name, W.J. TAYLOR LONDON is found in the ground line at the top of the exergue.

Edge Description

Plain