Summary

Brass Cast one Penny token, possibly minted by Whitty, 1858. Based on One Penny Token issued by Weight & Johnson, Drapers & Outfitters, Sydney. Cast trade tokens are probably best all considered counterfeits. Exceptions might be cast examples of the Whitty & Brown trade tokens. Whitty was a brass founder, Brown and engraver. After dissolution of their partnership, Whitty continued to produce crudely cast pieces which were accepted as currency equally with struck tokens "the public being not in the least particular"' Dr. Mark Long. Spinks' Numismatic Circular Sept. 1898 - as quoted in Heyde p. 85.

J.W. Weight & James Johnson, drapers, are listed in two Sydney Directories (Sand's Directories for 1857-1858 and 1861-1862). Over the period 1851-1870, John Weight was the only draper of that surname listed in Sydney directories, other than this four-year interlude where J.W. Weight is listed as a principal of Weight & Johnston.

Physical Description

A crude brass casting of a round token (33 mm diameter). The token design featuring the name, business and address of Weight & Johnson, drapers and outfitters, Liverpool and London House, Pitt St. Sydney, although the lettering is very poor. The reverse features a female figure representing Justice standing facing left.

Obverse Description

At centre, WEIGHT / AND / JOHNSON / DRAPERS / & / OUTFITTERS; around above, LIVERPOOL & LONDON HOUSE; around below, . PITT STREET SYDNEY .

Reverse Description

Female figure representing Justice standing facing left. She wears a blindfold and extends a balanced set of scales with her right hand. With her left she holds an inverted cornucopia from which fruits flow onto the ground.

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    circa 1858 AD

  • Issued By

    Sydney, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1855-1865

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: WEIGHT AND JOHNSON DRAPERS & OUTFITTERS LIVERPOOL & LONDON HOUSE PITT STREET SYDNEY

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Brass

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - new south wales, Circulating casts

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    33 mm (Outside Diameter), 13.56 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Cast trade tokens are probably best all considered counterfeits. Exceptions might be cast examples of the Whitty & Brown trade tokens - 'Whitty was a brass founder, Brown and engraver. After dissolution of their partnership, Whitty continued to produce crudely cast pieces which were accepted as currency equally with struck tokens "the public being not in the least particular"' Dr. Mark Long. Spinks' Numismatic Circular Sept. 1898 - as quoted in Heyde p. 85. The Advance Australia type by Whitty & Brown was copied from an anonymous W.J.Taylor of London issue and occurs both struck and cast. How one should classify a cast example of an unauthorised copy of an anonymous unofficial trade token is interesting.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., cf No.615
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., cf No.271

  • Keywords

    Counterfeits