Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Pope & Co, Birmingham. Issued by E. De Carle & Co, Grocers & Spirit Merchant, Melbourne, circa 1853. De Carle arrived in Australia in 1849. Over the following fourteen years he was involved in a wide range of business ventures in Melbourne, taking advantage of the explosive growth caused by the gold rush. He later moved to New Zealand, where he died. De Carle's three different tokens, which featured his business as 'Grocers and Spirit Merchants,' 'Auctioneers and Land Agents' and 'Auctioneers, etc.,' indicated the range of his business activities and speculation. He was also involved in the urbanisation of Footscray and a section of Brunswick. De Carle operated his businesses with a number of partners, in a network of business dealings.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) giving the name address and business of the issuer: E. DeCarle & Co, Melbourne and Plenty, grocers and spirit merchants. 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 crudely illustrated three-masted sailing ship is on the horizon at left.

Obverse Description

At centre, GROCERS / & SPIRIT/ MERCHANTS around, .E. DE CARLE & CO. MELBOURNE & PLENTY VICTORIA.

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 twelve 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

    circa 1853 AD

  • Issued By

    E. De Carle & Co., Melbourne & Plenty, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1850-1856

  • Mint

    Pope, T. & Co. (Mint), Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1850-1855

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: E. DE.CARLE & CO. MELBOURNE & PLENTY VICTORIA GROCERS & SPIRIT MERCHANTS 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

    33 mm (Outside Diameter), 16.12 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    E. DeCarle & Co. arranged for three issues of trade token pennies. His first, as a grocer and spirit merchant (this token) was probably isssued in about 1853 - it was struck by Pope & Co with the same reverse die employed for the issue of I. Booth & Co (see NU 3569). His second issue was commissioned in 1855 from Heaton & Sons, Birmingham or W.J. Taylor of London featured a lion and seated Justice (see NU 3677). His final issue, also of 1855 has a seated figure of Tasmania on the reverse although it was struck for him as a Melbourne auctioneer (see NU 3681). There is also a rare pattern for this final issue which featured a portrait of Lord Raglan (not held).
    [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. 104
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 62
    [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. 58

  • Keywords

    Gold, Grocers, Wine & Spirit Merchants