Summary

Copper One Penny Token minted by J. Moore of Birmingham. Issued to promote Professor Holloway's pills and ointments in 1857. Holloway tokens are presumed to have been circulated worldwide throughout retailers of Holloway products. Holloway's tokens were produced in large numbers and have proven the most common token finds on Melbourne archaeological sites.

Previous Collections: Hon. William K.M. Vale

Physical Description

A round copper striking of a Professor Holloway token (34 mm diameter). The token features a profile head of Professor Holloway and a rendition of the classical goddess Hygeia (the ancient Greek goddess of health) seated looking at snake drinking from a cup she holds in her left hand, the snake is curled around a burning altar, an orb rests on altar on her right side. The legend promites Holloway's pills and ointments and gives the date 1857. There appears to be a third tuft of hair from the back of the Proffessor's head, probably a die flaw.

Obverse Description

Head of Professor Holloway facing left with J. MOORE (the maker's name) incuse on neck truncation; around, PROFESSOR HOLLOWAY; below, LONDON. There appears to be a third tuft of hair from the back of the Proffessor's head, probably a die flaw.

Reverse Description

Hygeia (the ancient Greek goddess of health) seated looking at snake drinking from a cup she holds in her left hand, the snake is curled around a burning altar, an orb rests on altar on her right side, around; HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND OINTMENTS, in exergue, 1857. The maker's initials, JM incuse on the right of the exergue line.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Medicine & Health, Numismatics & Philately, Working Life & Trades

  • Acquisition Information

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

  • Date Issued

    1857 AD

  • Issued By

    Professor Holloway, London, England, Great Britain, 1857

  • Mint

    Joseph Moore (Mint), London, England, Great Britain, 1857

  • Place & Date Used

    Australia, circa 1857-1890s

  • Previous Collection

    Honourable William M. Vale JP

  • Inscriptions

    Obverse: PROFESSOR HOLLOWAY LONDON J. MOORE Reverse: HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND OINTMENTS 1857

  • Denomination

    1 Penny

  • Series

    Trade Tokens

  • Material

    Copper

  • Axis

    12

  • Classification

    Trade tokens, Great britain - england, Working strikes

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Numismatics

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Dimensions

    34 mm (Outside Diameter), 16.182 g (Weight)

  • Shape

    Round

  • References

    Holloway's tokens were struck in such large numbers that the minting technique of hubbing was clearly employed. In this a master tool, having the full appearance of the final token for the obverse and reverse is manufactured in steel. This is then used to prepare working dies. This technique makes the identification of individual dies from variations in rim bead counts or alignment of lettering impossible. Researchers have noted minor variations in the lowest relief areas of the tokens that may be the result of variations of quality of the die production off the hub (Heyde p. 49) or minor tooling. On this token there appears to be a third tuft of hair from the back of the Proffessor's head (hence Andrews 661), this is probably a die flaw.
    [Book] Andrews, Arthur. 1921. Australasian Tokens and Coins., No.661
    [Book] Heyde, Gilbert C. & Skinner, Dion H. 1967. Unofficial Coins of Colonial Australia and New Zealand., No.119/1

  • Keywords

    Healthcare & Medicine