Summary

Brass one Penny Cast Token, possibly created by Whitty, circa 1858. Based on Heaton & Sons 'Peace & Plenty' Token Penny. 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 'Peace & Plenty' token was part of a large anonymous token issue made by Heaton & Sons employing die hubbing techniques.

Physical Description

A crude cast of a round token (33 mm diameter) in brass, without the name of an issuer or mint. The obverse (so called as the seated Justice type is normally a reverse) features a coat of arms consisting of a central shield below a rising sun with emu and kangaroo supporters. The shield is quartered and contains: top left, Golden Fleece, top right, three masted sailing ship, bottom left bull standing facing left, bottom right, anchor. The supporters stand on a pair of simple curved lines which also hold the base of the shield, a ribbon bearing the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA is draped across these lines below their feet. Around above, PEACE & PLENTY. The reverse features a female figure representing Justice seated on a wool bale with legs to left but her head and upper body to front. A wine barrel lies on the ground behind her and a three-masted sailing ship sails to the right on the horizon to the 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. She wears an ancient-style of flowing dress bound at the waist, her left arm bare and right draped to near the elbow. Around above, MELBOURNE VICTORIA, in exergue, 1858.

Obverse Description

Coat of arms consisting of a central shield below a rising sun with emu and kangaroo supporters. The shield is quartered and contains: top left, Golden Fleece, top right, three masted sailing ship, bottom left bull standing facing left, bottom right, anchor. The supporters stand on a pair of simple curved lines which also hold the base of the shield, a ribbon bearing the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA is draped across these lines below their feet. Around above, PEACE & PLENTY.

Reverse Description

Female figure representing Justice seated on a wool bale with legs to left but her head and upper body to front. A wine barrel lies on the ground behind her and a three-masted sailing ship sails to the right on the horizon to the 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. She wears an ancient-style of flowing dress bound at the waist, her left arm bare and right draped to near the elbow. Around above, MELBOURNE VICTORIA, in exergue, 1858. Small die crack to from the rim to the letter N.

Edge Description

plain

More Information