Summary

Copper one Penny token minted by Heaton & Son in Birmingham, circa 1858. Issued by Morrin & Co, grocers, wine and spirit merchants, in Queen Street, Auckland. John Morrin did not remain in business very long as in later life he was the Auckland representative of Arthur Heather, merchant, Customs Street.

Previous Collections: Hon. William M.K. Vale

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: Morrin & Co., Queen St. Auckland, grocers wine and spirit merchant, around a palm tree. The reverse features a female figure representing Justice standing facing left. She wears a blindfold and extends a balanced set of scales with her right hand. With her left she holds an inverted cornucopia from which fruits flow onto the ground. She wears an ancient-style of flowing dress bound at the waist, her left arm is draped to near the elbow while drapery falls from her extended arm to below the horizon line behind; around above, ADVANCE AUCKLAND. A Maori, holding a spear, and a gold prospector, holding a pick, shake hands at left of token below the scales.

Obverse Description

At centre a palm tree, around in four curved lines, MORRIN & Co. / QUEEN STREET / AUCKLAND / GROCERS, WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS

Reverse Description

Female figure representing Justice standing facing left. She wears a blindfold and extends a balanced set of scales with her right hand. With her left she holds an inverted cornucopia from which fruits flow onto the ground. She wears an ancient-style of flowing dress bound at the waist, her left arm is draped to near the elbow while drapery falls from her extended arm to near the horizon line behind; around above, ADVANCE AUCKLAND. A Maori, holding a spear, and a gold prospector, holding a pick, shake hands at left of token below the scales.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Honourable William M. Vale JP, 15 Mar 1976

  • Date Issued

    circa 1858 AD

  • Issued By

    Morrin & Co, Grocers & Wine Merchants, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, circa 1858
    In the 1870s the large copper tokens were not being produced as smaller bronze pieces were being produced.

  • Mint

    Heaton & Sons (Mint), Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1852-1870
    Associated with this mint by Lampard probably on the basis of the standing Justice reverse type.

  • Previous Collection

    Honourable William M. Vale JP

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: MORRIN & Co. QUEEN STREET AUCKLAND GROCERS, WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS Reverse: ADVANCE AUCKLAND

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • 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), 14.897 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    The Morrin & Co. issue required three obverse and two reverse dies for its production. The dies can be identified as follows: Obverse top frond of palm Reverse Head of Justice A below S of STREET 1 below A of AUCKLAND B below T of STREET 2 below AU of AUCKLAND C below ST of STREET The following die combinations have been recorded: A/1 (this token), B/1, B/2, C/2
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No. 387
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No. 187/1
    [Book] Lampard, William H. 1981. Catalogue of New Zealand Coins Tokens Bank Notes., No. 335
    [Article] Robinson, H.A. Auckland Tradesmen's Tokens. NZ Numismatics Journal. (May 1974), p.142 Pages
    [Book] Humberstone, Vaughn. 2010. Merchants Making Money.

  • Keywords

    Gold, Grocers, Maori Culture, Maoris, Wine & Spirit Merchants