Token - 1 Penny, S. Beaven, Ironmonger, Invercargill, New Zealand, 1863
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1863
Bronze One Penny Token, minted by W.J. Taylor, London. Issued by S. Beaven, Ironmonger, Invercargill, New Zealand, 1863. Samuel Beaven was the only token issuer in the town of Invercargill. He had a farm outside the town in 1859, and in 1861 opened an Ironmongery store. Beaven sold his business to a man by the name of Hall-Jones in 1866 and then moved to Fiji. When Beaven sold his business, he melted down the tokens that he had not distributed. His tokens were made in London using a stock reverse die for Australia - hence the emu, kangaroo and motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA.
A round copper token (34 mm diameter). The piece features the name, address and business of the issuer: S. Beaven, ironmonger and general merchant, Invercargill. The reverse was a W.J. Taylor stock die for Australian tokens - a coat of arms consisting of a central shield below a rising sun supported by an emu at left and kangaroo at right all resting on a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered and contains: upper left - a golden fleece; upper right - a three-masted sailing ship; lower left - a bull standing facing left; lower right an anchor. The surfaces of this token are finely pitted and it has been cleaned.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Edge
- Plain
- Shape
- Round
- Material
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- 31 mm (Outside Diameter), 8.93 g (Weight)
Technical characteristics
- Series
- Trade Tokens
- Die axis
- 12
- Date issued
- 1863 AD
- Denomination
- 1 Penny
- Mint recorded
- W.J.Taylor, Mint (London, England, Great Britain)
- Issuer recorded
- Samuel Beaven - Ironmonger (Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand)
Design
- Obverse
- Legend in five lines: S. BEAVEN / IRONMONGER / & / MERCHANT / INVERCARGILL N.Z.
- Reverse
- Coat of Arms consisting of a central shield below a Rising Sun supported by an emu at left and kangaroo at right all resting on a ribbon with the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA. The shield is quartered and contains: upper left - a golden fleece; upper right - a three-masted sailing ship; lower left - a bull standing facing left; lower right an anchor. Around, PEACE & PLENTY 1863
- Inscription
- Obverse: S. BEAVEN IRONMONGER & MERCHANT INVERCARGILL N.Z. Reverse: PEACE & PLENTY 1863 ADVANCE AUSTRALIA
Identification
- Candidate id
- mv-60881
- Museum object number
- NU 3566
- Catalogue references (museum record)
- -Williams, H. G., & Sutherland, A.. 'Otago Currency Token Issuers.' The New Zealand Numismatic Journal. Vol. 6 No. 1. March 1950: pp.19 - 20.; This is based on the stock reverse die, Australian arms with Peace & Plenty. However Heaton & Sons, Birmingham suggest involvement with this reverse. They may have prepared the dies for use elsewhere or may even have struck the tokens. Sweeny pp. 240 - 245
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.