Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Samuel Coombes, Auckland, circa 1870. Samuel Coombes was a tailor, born about 1837, whose main store was in Auckland, he also had a store in Grahamstown. According New Zealand numismatist H.A. Robinson, Coombes was the only issuer of tokens in New Zealand who put his portrait on his tokens. Coombes appears to have made very sensible business choices, it seems he owned an arcade in Queen Street, Auckland, in addition to having his business there.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the company that issued the tokens: Samuel Coombes, Queen Street Auckland and Albert Street Graham Town, tailor, manufacturing clothier, mercer. The obverse features a bust of Coombes.

Obverse Description

At centre a bust of Coombes facing, around above, SAMUEL COOMBES around below, MANUFACTURING CLOTHIER to right, QUEEN ST. to left AUCKLAND

Reverse Description

Legend in seven lines: TAILOR, OUTFITTER / QUEEN STREET / AUCKLAND / S. COOMBES / ALBERT STREET / GRAHAM TOWN / GENTLEMEN'S MERCER

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1870 AD

  • Issued By

    Samuel Coombes, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, 1857-1897
    1857 is the date Stokes began, 1897 is the date tokens were demonetized.

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), 1857-1897
    This mint reported by Andrews and followed by Lampard.

  • Previous Collection

    Numismatics Collection, National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), pre 1976

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: SAMUEL COOMBES QUEEN ST. AUCKLAND MANUFACTURING CLOTHIER Reverse: TAILOR, OUTFITTER QUEEN STREET AUCKLAND S. COOMBES ALBERT STREET GRAHAM TOWN GENTLEMEN'S MERCER

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 14.957 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Production of the Coombes tokens employed at least two obverse and two reverse dies. A third reverse die has been described by Andrews but is not confirmed. This die is not recorded in the manuscript of Andrews book which was fully illustrated by rubbings. As such may have been included late and without confirmation. Die identification, the basis of both the standard references and the museum storage, is: Obverse AUCKLAND 1ST A of AUCKLAND M of SAMUEL A 16 MM between MB broken with protrusion from base of last downstroke B 12 mm between BE broken (all M's are broken) Reverse S.COOMBES last T of STREET D of AUCKLAND 1 23.1 mm just left of top of N under E of STREET 2 22.8 mm just right of top of N under E of STREET 3 ? ? under T of STREET this die not confirmed The following die combinations have been reported: A/1 (this token), B/1, B/2, B/3 (not confirmed)
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 76
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes., No. 313
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 46/1
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Mercers, Tailors