Summary

Steel one Penny Token obverse die, created by Thomas Stokes in Melbourne, in 1962. This was apparently an experimantal die shape, prepared during Stokes development of token production for his expanded efforts in 1862. Thomas Stokes migrated to Australia in search of gold in the 1850s, being unsuccessful he returned to his trade as a die-maker and button maker. In 1857 Stokes acquired a press from W.J. Taylor and began to mint large numbers of tradesmen's tokens. He also commenced the Australian Medallic Issues. In 1873 Stokes took a partner, Martin, and the business was re-named Stokes & Martin. In 1893 a disastrous fire damaged a large portion of the business, Martin had forgotten to renew the fire insurance policy, and the partnership was dissolved as a result. Stokes rebuilt the business as Stokes & Son. The business became a proprietary concern in 1911, re-named Stokes & Son Pty Ltd. In 1935 the business moved to Brunswick, and in 1962 Stokes became a public company, renamed Stokes (Australasia) Pty Ltd. Today the business is located in Ringwood.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A steel die 46 mm high with a main diameter of 52 mm and a working surface diameter of 34 mm. The bottom of the die has been chipped away then tooled to form an 18 mm diameter 18 mm long extrusion designed to fit the die to some unit on the press. Stokes dies were normally about 55 mm high cylinders of 54 mm diameter with a 34 mm working surface tooled at the top. The die features the name and address of the firm: THOMAS STOKES 100 COLLINS STREET EAST MELBOURNE

Obverse Description

A steel die 46 mm high with a main diameter of 52 mm and a working surface diameter of 34 mm. The bottom of the die has been chipped away then tooled to form an 18 mm diameter 18 mm long extrusion designed to fit the die to some unit on the press. The die features the name and address of the firm: THOMAS STOKES 100 COLLINS STREET EAST MELBOURNE

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