Summary

Australia New South Wales Sydney
Whitty & Brown Token Penny c.1860 (AD)
Mint: Whitty and Brown
Previous Collections: George McArthur
Standard References: Andrews 630 = Heyde 202/3

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token does not include the name the issuer and manufacturer: Whitty & Brown, Sydney, but the shared reverse die and characteristic poor workmanship make it clear that this company was responsible. It features a ram facing left and a representation of Justice standing blindfolded holding scales and an inverted cornucopiae spilling fruit on the ground. A sailing ship is on the horizon. The die work is of poor quality and the token weakly struck it has been cleaned and varnished. This token was struck during the third stage of the obverse and second stage of the reverse dies. The stages of deterioration of the obverse die are recognised by the development of projections from the base of the ground into the exergue area, on this token there is two large projections, one from from the right side the second from the centre. The edge of the die was just beginning to break, at the N of PLENTY. Stage 1 of the reverse is easiest to recognise by the fold of cloth which curves over the right shoulder and arm of Justice, on Stage 2 it is reformed as a sleeve squared off half way down the arm.

Obverse Description

Ram standing facing left; around above, PEACE AND PLENTY; around below, . SYDNEY N.S.W.

Reverse Description

Justice blindfolded standing facing to left on beach; extends balanced scales in rirgh hand and holds inverted cornucopia from which fruits flow onto the ground, in left; sailing ship in background at left.

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    McArthur Bequest

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    circa 1860 AD

  • Issued By

    Whitty & Brown (Mint), Sydney, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

  • Mint

    Whitty & Brown (Mint), Sydney, Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1850-1868

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: PEACE AND PLENTY SYDNEY N.S.W. Reverse: NEW SOUTH WALES

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    05

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - new south wales, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 14.407 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Andrews 630 = Heyde 202/3 The museum storage system is based on the die combination not on the deterioration stages of the dies. These are however noted in the description and are characterised as follows: The stages of deterioration of the obverse die are recognised by the development of projections from the base of the ground into the exergue area, on this token there is one large projection from the right side. Stage 1 has no die flaw projections, stage 2 has a single projection and stage 3 has two projections and the edges of the die break up (just beginning this token) . Stage 1 of the reverse is easiest to recognise by the fold of cloth which curves over the right shoulder and arm of Justice, on Stage 2 it is reformed as a sleeve squared off half way down the arm.
    [Thesis] Lugton, Mary E. 1989. George McArthur of Maldon: his Life and his Book Collection.
    [Catalogue] Morrison, Ian. 2003. The Baker of Maldon.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins.
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand.

  • Keywords

    Art, Farm Animals, Sheep