Summary

Copper one Penny token, minted by W.J. Taylor of London, circa 1880. Commissioned by Lipman Levy of Wellington, New Zealand. Born in London, Levy moved to Wellington in 1842 and opened a business importing and manufacturing shoes and grindery (tools for shoemakers and leatherworkers). Levy issued four varieties of tokens, three pennies and one halfpenny, which were issued between 1857 (when the first tokens were issued in New Zealand) and his death in 1880. The dies used to strike Levy's tokens remained in London and were used about 1880 to make mules, such as this one, with other token dies by W.J. Taylor.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The piece features the name, address and business of the issuer: Lipman Levy, Lambton Quay, Wellington, importers and manufacturers of boots and shoes.

Obverse Description

Legend in seven lines, the first and last curved around the rim; LIPMAN LEVY / IMPORTER / AND / MANUFACTURER / OF BOOTS / & SHOES / WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

Reverse Description

At centre in six lines, LEATHER / & GRINDERY / OF ALL / DESCRIPTION / THE TRADE / SUPPLIED around, ONE PENNY TOKEN . PAYABLE AT L. LEVY'S LAMBTON QUAY .

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Levy was an importer and manufacturer of boots and shoes in Wellington. He had his tokens struck in London by W.J. Taylor and the dies remained there where they were used about 1880 to make mules with other token dies. The original issue of penny and halfpenny employed one pair of dies for each denomination, but the penny was probably re-struck by Taylor in about 1880 with the die axis set at 06 (original tokens were struck at 12). Tokens were demonetised in New Zealand on March 25, 1897.

More Information