Description
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Issued by John Pettigrew & Co., General Merchants, in Ipswich, Queensland.
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Year of issue: 1865 for both the Penny and Half-Penny tokens.
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Minted by W. J. Taylor, London.
Physical Description & Design
Here are the details for both denominations (Penny and Half-Penny):
| Feature | Penny (1d) | Half-Penny (½d) |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | ~ 31 mm | ~ 26 mm |
| Metal | Copper / bronze token | Copper / bronze |
| Weight | ~ 9.66 g for the penny | ~ 5.366 g for the halfpenny |
| Obverse (front) Inscription & Design | “JOHN PETTIGREW & Co. / IPSWICH” at center, surrounded by “WHOLESALE AND RETAIL GENERAL MERCHANTS” around the border. | Same obverse layout. |
| Reverse Inscription & Design | Coat of Arms with rising sun above, supported by emu & kangaroo, ribbon with “ADVANCE AUSTRALIA”, inscription “QUEENSLAND” above, date “1865” below. | Same reverse style. |
| Edge | Plain |
Historical / Context
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John Pettigrew was born in 1832 in Tarshaw, Scotland. He arrived in Australia in 1850, first in Brisbane, then established himself in Ipswich around 1852, founding a general store. He held civic roles: he was an alderman, briefly Mayor of Ipswich; also represented the electorate of Stanley in the Queensland Parliament from 1873-1878. His business (“Wholesale & Retail General Merchants”) sold a variety of goods. The store was on a prominent location (corner of Union and East Streets, Ipswich) close to transport routes.
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These tokens were part of the wider phenomenon of merchant tokens in colonial Australia when small coinage was in short supply. They functioned partly as change substitutes, partly as advertising.
