Summary

New Zealand Wellington
J.W. Mears Token Halfpenny
Mint: Uncertain, British
Previous Collections: George McArthur
Standard References: Andrews 362 = Heyde 166 = Lampard 332
Other Details: Mears was a saddler and harness maker on Lambton Quay, Wellington. Tokens were demonetised in New Zealand on March 25, 1897.

Physical Description

A round copper token (29 mm diameter). The piece features the name, address and business of the issuer: J.W. Mears, saddler, collar and harness maker, Lambton Quay, Wellington. The reverse features saddle.

Obverse Description

At centre a saddle, above, J.W. MEARS / SADDLER around below, LAMBTON QUAY WELLINGTON

Reverse Description

legend in eight lines; ONE HALFPENNY TOKEN / PAYABLE / AT / J.W. MEARS / COLLAR & / HARNESS / MAKER / . NEW ZEALAND .

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 1858 AD

  • Issued By

    J W Mears - Saddler, Harness & Collar maker, Wellington, North Island, New Zealand, circa 1858

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: J.W. MEARS SADDLER LAMBERTON QUAY WELLINGTON Reverse: ONE HALFPENNY TOKEN PAYABLE AT J.W. MEARS COLLAR & HARNESS MAKER NEW ZEALAND

  • Denomination

    Halfpenny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    29 mm (Outside Diameter), 8.78 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Andrews 362 = Heyde 166 = Lampard 332 Bell, R.S., 'Mears & Forsyth Tokens', in The New Zealand Numismatic Journal, Vol. 11, No. 37, March 1963, pp. 3-4; Advertisement, The New Zealand Almanac, 1855, unnumbered page.
    [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.
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes.
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Harnesses, Saddles