Summary

Brass One Penny Cast Token, possibly created by Whitty, 1862. Based on Penny Token issued by S. Deeble, Draper, Melbourne, and minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. 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.

Samuel Deeble arrived in Melbourne in 1853. He opened a shop in Melbourne shortly after his arrival, in 1858 Deeble advertised in the Sands and McDougall Melbourne Directory, describing himself as a wholesale and retail draper, specalising in millinery including 'Bonnets, Hats, Bonnet Shapes, Blonds, Ribbons, Feathers &c., at wholesale prices.'

Physical Description

A cruse brass casting of a round token (33 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the original issuer: S. Deeble, London House Bourke St. Melbourne, draper. The reverse features a wheat sheaf on the reverse.

Obverse Description

Within plain circle superimposed above scrollwork, S.DEEBLE / DRAPER around, : LONDON HOUSE BOURKE ST. : MELBOURNE

Reverse Description

At centre a wheat sheaf tied with a cord 4.7 mm long, above, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA; below, 1862 border of 114 beads. (cast based on Stock reverse Andrews type 21 = Heyde Sheaf 1 = Sharples Sheaf 1)

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

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse:S.DEEBLE DRAPER LONDON HOUSE BOURKE ST MELBOURNE Reverse: ADVANCE AUSTRALIA 1862

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Brass

  • Axis

    03

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Circulating casts

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    33 mm (Outside Diameter), 12.37 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] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., cf No.635
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., cf No.4/1, p.85 Pages

  • Keywords

    Counterfeits