Summary

Copper One Penny Token, minted by W.J. Taylor, London. Issued by Day & Mieville, Merchants, Dunedin, 1857. These two men were in business together from 1857, but their partnership dates from 1 November 1858, when Walter Day took Francis Louis Mieville into partnership in his hardware business. From 1851 Day had run a hardware business in Dunedin. In addition to selling hardware, the partners were 'contractors, builders and storekeepers. The firm was licenced to sell powder, shot and firearms from 1861. Walter Day was appointed Sub-Treasurer and Accountant for the Province of Otago in 1862 and became Acting Provincial Treasurer. Mieville had been a sheep farmer in Mataura Mouth in 1853 and married the following year, by 1904 he was in London.

Previous Collections: Henry Smith

Physical Description

A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The token features the name, address and business of the issuer: Day and Mieville, merchants, Dunedin, Otago. The reverse depicts a female figure representing Justice seated on a wool bale with legs to left but her head and upper body to front. A wine barrel lies on the ground behind her and a three-masted sailing ship sails to the right on the horizon to the 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 bare and right draped to near the elbow.

Obverse Description

Legend in four lines: DAY & MIEVILLE / MERCHANTS / DUNEDIN / OTAGO

Reverse Description

A female figure representing Justice seated on a wool bale with legs to left but her head and upper body to front. A wine barrel lies on the ground behind her and a three-masted sailing ship sails to the right on the horizon to the 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 bare and right draped to near the elbow. Around above, NEW ZEALAND in exergue, 1857

Edge Description

Plain

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