Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Originally issued by R.B. Ridler, Wholesale & Retail Butcher, Richmond, Victoria, 1862. Robert Broom Ridler was an Englishman, born in Devonshire in 1825. He arrived in Victoria in about 1852. He took a position as salesman with Mr. Butler in the shop which shortly afterwards became his own, in Richmond. By 1856 Ridler was running the shop in his own name. In 1857 Ridler married Sophia Wild, later having eleven children. He sold his business to a Mr Brockman in 1877 and retired to Dandenong, where he died in 1898.

Previous Collections: George McArthur

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) with the name, address and business of the issuer: R.B. Ridler 187 Bridge Road, Richmond, wholesal and retail butcher. The reverse is a Stokes stock Arms type: 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 and on right emu with similar stance. Below ground line and set on bouquet of rose, thistles and shamrock, a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA. The shield is quartered by a cross with a star at the centre and at the end of each arm. The cross is not shaded. The quarters contain: top left, a three-masted sailing ship; top right, a golden fleece; bottom left, an anchor; and bottom right, a wheat sheaf. Around above, VICTORIA . 1862 around below in two lines, T. STOKES MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE.

Obverse Description

At centre within a line circle in five lines (the first curved and last, R.B. RIDLER / 187 / BRIDGE / ROAD / RICHMOND; around, WHOLESALE & RETAIL BUTCHER :

Reverse Description

At centre an emu standing facing left in front of a rising sun with thirteen long light rays. Below on a scroll the motto ADVANCE VICTORIA (without the spread bouquet of rose thistle and shamrock emerging below scroll that occurs on other stock emu dies). Around above, VICTORIA . 1862, around below in two lines, T. STOKES _ MAKER / 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE. Border of 122 beads, the beak of the emu is cut by the 6th ray. It is numbered in the standard catalogues as: Sharples Emu 1 = Heyde Emu 1 = Andrews 17.

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

    1862 AD

  • Issued By

    Robert Broom Ridler - Wholesale & Retail Butcher, Richmond, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Mint

    Stokes (Mint), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862

  • Previous Collection

    George McArthur

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: R.B. RIDLER 187 BRIDGE ROAD RICHMOND WHOLESALE & RETAIL BUTCHER Reverse: VICTORIA . 1862 ADVANCE VICTORIA T. STOKES MAKER 100 COLLINS ST. EAST MELBOURNE

  • 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), 13.787 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Biography: -Gardner, F.. 'Trade tokens and the firms who issued them'. The Australian Storekeepers and Traders Journal. 30 November 1911: p. 10 (photocopy); -Sharples, J.. 'Catalogue of Victorian Trade Tokens'. Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia. Vol. 7. December 1993: p. 71; -Hope, John. Ridler, R.B.. Unpublished MSS. 2005: 1pp. Ridler employed Stokes strike trade tokens in 1862. The obverse was a standard format of the issuers name address and business - only one die was needed. This die (Obverse A) was linked to three stock reverses in 1862 but the obverse survived and was empoloyed to make an additional three types in about 1920. The late strikes show corrosion to the dies. The following original types are known: A/Emu 1, A/Sheaf 1 and a/ Arms 6 The following late strikes from corroded dies are also recorded: A/ Arms 6, A/ Emu 3 and A/ Vine 2 - these are not trade tokens but collector restrikes and concoction.
    [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. 453
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 215
    [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. 189

  • Keywords

    Butchers, Retail Trade, Retailing, Wholesale Trade