Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Southward & Sumpton, Grocers, Wine & Spirit Merchants, Ballarat, circa 1862. Southward and Sumpton both came from Cumberland, England. They were running a Grocery, Wine and Spirit business in Sturt Street, Ballarat by 1855. Their business grew quickly, and they had branches in Clunes, Scarsdale and Booloorook, engaging in wholesale trade. Southward was a judge at horse-shows and the firm is said to have kept very good horses. The partnership was dissolved around 1874.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round bronze token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: Southward & Sumpton, Wholesale Grocers, wine & spirit merchants, Ballarat. The reverse features a coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground set below Rising Sun with kangaroo on left, seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and emu on right with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE BALLARAT. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is shaded with horizontal (perhaps representing blue) and vertical lines (perhaps representing red) which cross in the middle behind the star. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, crossed pick and shovel (mining tools); and bottom right, a wheat sheaf.

Obverse Description

At centre within inner line circle, SOUTHWARD / & / SUMPTON / BALLARAT ; around within border of 119 beads, * WHOLESALE GROCERS * WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS

Reverse Description

At centre coat of arms consisting of a central shield set on grass covered ground and below Rising Sun. On left a kangaroo seated facing out but head back towards sun (sejant sinister reguardant) and on right emu with similar stance (passant dexter reguardant). Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE BALLARAT. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is shaded with horizontal (perhaps representing blue) and vertical lines (perhaps representing red) which cross in the middle behind the star. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, crossed pick and shovel (mining tools); and bottom right, a wheat sheaf; around, SOUTHWARD & SUMPTON BALLARAT; border of 122 beads.

Edge Description

plain

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