1 Penny - Ashton, H. Auckland

H. Ashton operated a general store in Auckland during the early 1860s, a period when the colonial government had failed to supply sufficient small-denomination coinage for everyday retail transactions. Merchants across New Zealand turned to privately struck tradesman's tokens as a practical solution, issuing copper pieces that functioned as de facto currency in their local communities. The Andrews and Renniks reference numbers covering this type span four varieties, suggesting Ashton commissioned multiple die combinations — not unusual for a trader who needed steady token supply across a two-year window.