Summary

Copper one Penny Token, minted by Soho Mint in Birmingham, 1849. Issued by Annand Smith & Co, Family grocers, in Collins Street, Melbourne. Annand Smith & Co issued Australia's first circulating copper tokens, on 20 October 1849. In 1949 the Numismatic Association of Victoria issued a medal to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that token. The partnership between Annand and Smith was over by 1852.

Annand Smith & Co. had two issues of trade tokens, the first were manufactured by the Soho Mint, Birmingham, in 1849 and the second by Heaton & Sons in 1851. The second issue (from which this token is) has the letters H&S added beside the shield (it is a different Britannia die too).

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: Annand, Smith & Co., Melbourne, family grocers. The token features on the reverse Britannia seated facing left on a rock against which rests a shield decorated with the Union Jack. Britannia extends an olive branch in her right hand and rests a trident from her left. A three-masted sailing ship is on the horizon at left. This token has been cleaned and varnished.

Obverse Description

Legend in four lines within a border of 132 beads, ANNAND SMITH & CO / FAMILY / GROCERS / .MELBOURNE. the first and last lines are curved

Reverse Description

Britannia seated facing left on a rock against which rests a shield decorated with the Union Jack. Britannia extends an olive branch (with eleven leaves) in her right hand and rests a trident from her left. A three-masted sailing ship is on the horizon at left; above, BRITANNIA

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

    1848 AD

  • Issued By

    Annand, Smith & Co., Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1849
    Issued before the separation of the Port Phillip District.

  • Mint

    Soho (Mint), Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1849
    This was the last issue of the Soho Mint. The number minted was 15,400.

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: ANNAND SMITH & CO FAMILY GROCERS MELBOURNE Reverse: BRITANNIA

  • 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

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 16.23 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    There were two issues of trade tokens made by this company. The first (see NU 3530), in 1849 was manufactured by the Soho Mint, Birmingham sent in three shipments, the first 5 cwt at 27.5 pieces per pound (15,400 tokens) on 23 May 1849 then on 12 October 1849 and 15 January 1850 each of about the same weight. Richard Doty gives the final number of tokens sent as 45,503. This was their last product before being sold. Heaton & Sons purchased much of the equipment at the sale of the Soho mint and their first issue was of trade tokens for Annand Smith & Co. in 1851. The second issue (from which this token) has the letters H&S added beside the shield (it is a different Britannia die too). The first Annand Smith token was the first circulating trade token issued in Australia. John Sharples 18 Oct 2004
    [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. 17
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 14/1
    [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. 48

  • Keywords

    Grocers, Import Trade, Retail Trade, Retailing