Summary

Copper One Penny Token, late strike, minted by Stokes, Melbourne, 1918. First issued by A. Davidson, Grocer, Wine & Spirit Merchant, Melbourne, 1862. Archibald Davidson arrived in Melbourne from Girven, Ayrshire, Scotland, in October 1852. He obtained work at the Bank of Australasia in Geelong, but it is believed he then tried his luck on the goldfields. He returned to Melbourne some seven years later, first working as a bookkeeper for David Masterton & Co., before opening a Grocery and Spirit and Wine Merchant's store in Collins Street in 1860, which he ran until his retirement in 1874. After investing in the Great Extended Hustler's Reef mine at Bendigo in 1870, he made so much in dividends that he could afford to retire. Unfortunately he lost a substantial amount of his wealth in land speculation, even so, Davidson retired a wealthy man.

Previous collections: National Gallery of Victoria

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter) featuring the name, address and business of the issuer: A. Davidson, 112 Collins St. East - corner Russell St. Melbourne, grocer, wine and spirit merchant with a Stokes stock coat of arms reverse 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.

Obverse Description

At centre within line circle, A.DAVIDSON / 112 / COLLINS ST. EAST / CORNER / OF / RUSSEL ST. / MELBOURNE; around, GROCER WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT :

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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