Description
Archibald Clark, Draper (Auckland, NZ) 1857 penny token:
What is it
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Issued in 1857 by Archibald Clark, a draper in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Archibald Clark was originally from Ayrshire, Scotland (born ~1805), migrated to New Zealand in 1849, and set up business as a draper.
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He also was a prominent figure: first Mayor of Auckland in 1851, and served as a Member of Parliament etc.
Token design & details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 Penny token |
| Material | Copper |
| Diameter | About 34 mm |
| Weight | ~ 15.7-16.1 grams depending on specimen |
| Obverse (front) | “ARCHIBALD CLARK SHORTLAND STREET AUCKLAND DRAPER” around the border, with “Shortland / Street / Auckland” etc. |
| Reverse (back) | A seated female allegorical figure (Justice) on a wool bale, holding scales in one hand and a cornucopia in the other; a three-masted ship on the horizon; “NEW ZEALAND” around, with date “1857” in the exergue. |
| Edge | Plain |
Significance
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This token is thought to be the first merchant / trade token issued in New Zealand.
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Because many merchant tokens were issued in Australia around the mid-1800s, the “New Zealand” inscription on the reverse likely reflects a desire to distinguish it from Australian tokens.
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