Summary
Steel One Penny Token Die, made by Stokes, Melbourne. Used to strike tokenst issued by A. Davidson, Grocer, Wine & Spirit Merchant, Melbourne, in 1862. Then used later (circa 1920) to manufacture collector pieces. Archibald Davidson arrived in Melbourne from Girven, Ayrshire, Scotland, in October 1852. He obtained work at the Bank of Australasia in Geelong, but it is believed he then tried his luck on the goldfields. He returned to Melbourne some seven years later, first working as a bookkeeper for David Masterton & Co., before opening a Grocery and Spirit and Wine Merchant's store in Collins Street in 1860, which he ran until his retirement in 1874. After investing in the Great Extended Hustler's Reef mine at Bendigo in 1870, he made so much in dividends that he could afford to retire. Unfortunately he lost a substantial amount of his wealth in land speculation, even so, Davidson retired a wealthy man.
Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria
Physical Description
A steel die 54 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 firm which commissioned it; A. Davidson, 112 Collins St. East - corner Russell St. Melbourne, grocer, wine and spirit merchant
Obverse Description
At centre within line circle A.DAVIDSON / 112 / COLLINS ST. EAST / CORNER / OF / RUSSELL ST. / MELBOURNE around outside line circle and within border of 111 beads, GROCER WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT : (all incuse mirror)
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
1862 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862
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Commissioned By
A Davidson - Grocer, wine & spirit merchant, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862
This was the hotel next door to Stoke's mint - 100 Collins Street East. -
Previous Collection
Numismatics Collection, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), pre 1976
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Inscriptions
A.DAVIDSON 112 COLLINS ST. EAST CORNER OF RUSSELL ST. MELBOURNE GROCER WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT
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Denomination
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Series
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Material
Steel
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
54 mm (Height), 54 mm (Outside Diameter)
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Shape
Cylinder
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References
A. Davidson owned the hotel next door to Thomas Stokes' mint. He made two issues of penny tokens in 1862 employing the this obverse die but two versions of the Stokes stock vine reverse - Vine 3 (see NU 3657) and Vine 2 (this token). This die was later employed (c. 1920) to make a new type for collectors with the reverse of Stokes stock Arms (see NU 3654) - this is stored with other late strikes by Stokes as it is not a Nineteenth Century trade token, nor an issue commissioned by Davidson.
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Keywords
Grocers, Numismatic Dies, Numismatic Technology, Retail Trade, Retailing, Wine & Spirit Merchants
