Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by an unknown British mint. Issued by David Jones, Criterion Drapery, Ballarat, 1862. David Jones arrived in Victoria about 1850, and his store was established 1853. His business was originally a partnership, located in Main Street, Ballarat as Hemmingway and Jones, drapers, mercers etc. The partnership was dissolved in the early 1860s. After the partnership was concluded, Jones built a store that he called Criterion House. He issued tokens bearing that address in 1862 and conducted his business from those premises until he retired in 1871. A former member of staff at Criterion House told Gardner that it was 'unquestionably the best drapery business in Australia. He imported the very best goods, employed the best men he could get, did a very fine business, and made very fine profits, which can be imagined when we say that he sold out for £103,000,' (Gardner, 1910). Hope records that he sold out to Christie & Co. of Ballarat (Hope, 2005). Jones is said to have been a bachelor and lived above his shop, entertaining celebrities from the stage who visited the city including 'Madame Caradini, Armes Beaumont, Montgomery and others.' After retiring he married a widow and returned to England. He travelled the world, returning to Australia on one or two occasions. He died in about 1880.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round bronze token (32 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: David Jones, Criterion Drapery Establishment Sturt St. Ballarat (in the form Ballaarat) wholesale and retail importer. The reverse features a view of the building with hints of stock displayed in the windows.

Obverse Description

At centre, DAVID JONES / IMPORTER / BALLAARAT / ESTAB: 1853 ; around, CRITERION DRAPERY ESTABLISHMENT * WHOLESALE & RETAIL *

Reverse Description

At centre view of shop with suggestion of display in main windows; above, STURT ST.; below, BALLAARAT / 1862; around, CRITERION HOUSE; DAVID JONES PROPRIETOR

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

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    David Jones, Criterion Drapery Establishment, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: DAVID JONES IMPORTER BALLAARAT ESTAB:1853 CRITERION DRAPERY ESTABLISHMENT WHOLESALE & RETAIL Reverse: CRITERION HOUSE DAVID JONES PROPRIETOR STURT ST., BALLAARAT 1862

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Australia - victoria, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    32 mm (Outside Diameter), 11.896 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    -Gardner, F.. "Trade tokens and the firms who issued them." The Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal. 30 June 1910: p.8; -Gardner, F.. "Trade tokens and the firms who issued them." The Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal. 30 July 1910" p.17; -Sharples, J.. "Catalogue of Victorian Trade Tokens." Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. Vol. 7. December 1993: p. 16; -Advertisement. The Ballarat Courier. 14 June 1867: p.1. -Hope, John. Jones, David. Unpiblished MSS. 2005: 2pps.
    [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., No. 304
    [Article] Sharples, John P. 1993. A Catalogue of the Trade Tokens of Victoria 1848 to 1862. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. vol.7: p.1-77., V. 5
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 136

  • Keywords

    Architecture, Drapers, Retail Trade, Retailing, Shops