Summary

Australia Victoria Melbourne
W. Watson Trade Token Penny Die 1862 (AD)
Mint: Thomas Stokes
Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Die produced by Stokes and to strike trade tokens in 1862 but rejected by the company which commissioned it as it gave the company name incorrectly - W. Watson & Co instead of W.R. Watson & Co. There are no known strikes from this die from 1862 but it was employed post World War I after it had suffered considerably from rusting for late-striking for collectors. See token NU 4499 and NU 4500 for examples of collector pieces struck with this die.

Physical Description

A steel die 55 mm high with a base diameter of 54 mm and a working surface diameter of 34 mm. The die features the name, address and business of the issuer: W. Watson & Co. Town Hall Hotel, Armstrong Street, Ballarat, wine & spirits merchants. The die is slightly rusted, the working face is pitted and a large crack has occurred off the working face just below the T of BALLARAT.

Obverse Description

TOWN HALL HOTEL / WINE & SPIRIT / W. WATSON & CO. / MERCHANTS / ARMSTRONG ST. BALLARAT (incuse mirror)

More Information