Summary

Copper Halfpenny Token, late strike, 1982. This is an obverse die squeeze of a Halfpenny Token originally minted by Thomas Stokes, Melbourne and issued by Crothers & Co, Tea Merchants & Storekeepers, Stawell, circa 1862. It was made by Made for display beside the die in 1982.

The three Crothers brothers, William, David and Hugh, arrived from Canada in August 1854. The brothers travelled the country (most likely trying their luck at the various gold fields) for ten years before deciding to open a store at Stawell. They opened their store in Main Street, Stawell in 1865. After a number of years David left the partnership and opened his own store in Melbourne. The other brothers continued their business until they retired in 1900. In 1910 William was living in Armadale, Hugh was in Stawell and David still running his own business, was in Oakleigh. They issued their tokens after they became illegal, the first penny and the halfpenny being issued in 1865, with the other two tokens issued in later years.

Physical Description

A uniface round bronze token (26 mm diameter). The token features the name and business of the issuer: Crothers & Co., Tea Merchants, General Storekeepers.

Obverse Description

Across centre in two lines, CROTHERS / & CO. around above, TEA MERCHANTS around below, & GENERAL STOREKEEPERS

Reverse Description

Plain

Edge Description

Plain

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