Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Stokes & Martin, Melbourne. Issued by Milner & Thompson, Canterbury Music Depot, Christchurch, 1881. Milner & Thompson's Music store, the Canterbury Music Depot, was opened in 1874 by Robert Thompson, some time soon afterwards he took John Milner into partnership and they worked together for 21 years. When Milner retired Thompson continued in the business until he passed it to his sons in 1907. The business was bought by Charles Begg and Co. in 1920, and was still a going concern in 1950. Milner & Thompson were the last issuers of tokens in New Zealand. The firm had a number of novel advertising schemes, in addition to the tokens. They installed a 'phantom piano' on the ground floor, which was set up to give the appearance of being played, while it was in fact being operated from a keyboard and set of pedals installed in the basement below. Thompson also ran a Booking Office for plays from the store from 1881, the first production advertised being staged by the Montague-Turner Opera Co. of Sydney.

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name and business of the issuer: Milner & Thompson, Canterbury Music Depot & Pianoforte Warehouse, Christchurch around a group of musical instruments set inside a radiate olive wreath with a winged cherub head set at the top. The reverse features a scene of a Maori warrior standing on an island in front of a palm tree. He holds a large square shield on the ground with his right hand and a weapon in his left. The shield is quartered with plants in each sector, a kiwi emerges walking left from behind the shield. In the sea behind the prow of a war canoe can be seen to the left of the kiwi and a mountainous island is seen in the background.

Obverse Description

A group of musical instruments set inside a radiate olive wreath with a winged cherub head set at the top, around, MILNER & THOMPSON CANTERBURY MUSIC DEPOT & PIANOFORTE WAREHOUSE below CHRISTCHURCH / 1881

Reverse Description

Maori warrior standing on an island in front of a palm tree. He holds a large square shield on the ground with his right hand and a weapon in his left. The shield is quartered with plants in each sector, a kiwi emerges walking left from behind the shield. In the sea behind the prow of a war canoe can be seen to the left of the kiwi and a mountainous island is seen in the background. Around, NEW ZEALAND

Edge Description

Plain

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Alfred Chitty Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Mr Alfred Chitty, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    1881 AD

  • Issued By

    Milner & Thompson, Canterbury Music Depot, Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, 1881

  • Mint

    Stokes & Martin, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1881

  • Previous Collection

    Mr Alfred Chitty

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: MILNER & THOMPSON CANTERBURY MUSIC DEPOT & PIANOFORTE WAREHOUSE CHRISTCHURCH 1881 Reverse: NEW ZEALAND

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, New zealand, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 12.677 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    This token belongs to the large (34 mm) diameter Series 1 issue of Milner & Thompson. Two obverse and two reverse dies were employed in manufacturing this series with the two reverses being used together to manufacture an anonymous token. Die identification is the basis of standard references and the museum storage system, they can be identified as follows: Obverse Cherub Head ER & TH A small short ray to & B large long ray to & Reverse 1 Scene of Maori warrior before palm tree 2 Tattoed bust of Maori warrior The following die combinations have been recorded: A/1 (this token), B/2, 1/2 For details of the small (32 mm) diameter series 2 tokens see eg. NU 4127
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 376
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 177
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes., No. 334
    [Book] The Canterbury Branch of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand. 1950. They Made their Own Money: The Story of Early Canterbury Traders & their Tokens. 94.
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Kiwis (Birds), Maori Culture, Maoris, Music