Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Originally issued by R.B. Ridler, Wholesale & Retail Butcher, Richmond, Victoria, 1862. Robert Broom Ridler was an Englishman, born in Devonshire in 1825. He arrived in Victoria in about 1852. He took a position as salesman with Mr. Butler in the shop which shortly afterwards became his own, in Richmond. By 1856 Ridler was running the shop in his own name. In 1857 Ridler married Sophia Wild, later having eleven children. He sold his business to a Mr Brockman in 1877 and retired to Dandenong, where he died in 1898.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) with the name, address and business of the issuer: R.B. Ridler 187 Bridge Road, Richmond, wholesal and retail butcher. The reverse is a Stokes stock Arms type: Coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun and on right emu with similar stance. Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is not shaded. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle in five lines (the first curved and last, R.B. RIDLER / 187 / BRIDGE / ROAD / RICHMOND; around, WHOLESALE & RETAIL BUTCHER :

Reverse Description

At centre an emu standing facing left in front of a rising sun with thirteen long light rays. Below on a scroll the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (without the spread bouquet of rose thistle and shamrock emerging below scroll that occurs on other stock emu dies). Around above, VICTORIA . 1862, around below in two lines, T. STOKES _ MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. Border of 122 beads, the beak of the emu is cut by the 6th ray. It is numbered in the standard catalogues as: Sharples Emu 1 = Heyde Emu 1 = Andrews 17.

Edge Description

Plain

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