Summary

Brass One Penny Cast Token, possibly created by Whitty, circa 1860. Based on W.J Taylor's 'Advance Australia' Penny which was manufactured in London, then imported into Australia and wholesaled to merchants in the Eastern colonies. 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.

Physical Description

A brass casting of a round token (33 mm diameter). The token does not include the name the issuer and manufacturer: Whitty & Brown, Sydney, but the characteristic poor workmanship make it clear that this company was responsible. It features the denomination and the motto Advance Australia on the obverse and a representation of an emu on left facing right and a kangaroo on right facing left standing on a grassy plain.

Obverse Description

At centre within line circle, ONE / PENNY; around, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA +++

Reverse Description

An emu on left facing right and a kangaroo on right facing left standing on a grassy plain. The paw of the kangaroo is 0.6 mm from the emu.

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 1860 AD

  • Issued By

    Sydney, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  • Mint

    Whitty (Mint)

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: ONE PENNY ADVANCE AUSTRALIA

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Brass

  • Axis

    06

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - new south wales, Circulating casts

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    33 mm (Outside Diameter), 14 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., No. 4/1
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 635

  • Keywords

    Australian Native Animals, Counterfeits, Emus, Kangaroos