Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne. Issued by Robert Calder, Wine & Spirit & General Provision Merchant, Castlemaine, Victoria, 1862. This token is a late strike, struck circa 1918 for collectors. Robert Calder is thought to have been a Scotsman from Glasgow. Apparently he established his wine and provisions business in Castlemaine in either the late 1850s or early 1860s. Robert married his Scottish sweetheart, who came out to join him during the 1860s. He died on January 12 1868, about ten years after arriving in Castlemaine.

Previous Collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) with the name, address and the buisness of the firm that originally commissioned the obverse die:R. Calder, Barker St. Castlemaine, wine spirit and general provision merchant. The reverse features 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. The neck of the emu is poorly engraved with additional line to the left, the T of EAST is below the letters AK of MAKER.This token has been varnished.

Obverse Description

At centre in three lines, R.CALDER / BARKER ST. / CASTLEMAINE; around, WINE SPIRIT & GENERAL PROVISION MERCHANT : 1862 :

Reverse Description

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. The neck of the emu is poorly engraved with additional line to the left, the T of EAST is below the letters AK of MAKER. The standard references for the die used to make this token are: Andrews 13 = Heyde Arms 5 = Sharples Arms 6.

Edge Description

Plain

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