Grundy operated a general store in Ballarat during the gold rush aftermath, when chronic small-change shortages across Victoria pushed dozens of local merchants to commission private token issues. The colonial government tolerated this parallel copper economy for years before finally acting — the Coinage Act of 1871 eventually swept most merchant tokens from circulation, making the decade between the major token-issuing period and suppression relatively short.
Andrews records two die varieties for this type, reflected in the dual reference numbers, likely indicating separate commissions or a replacement die after the first wore out.
Grundy operated a general store in Ballarat during the gold rush aftermath, when chronic small-change shortages across Victoria pushed dozens of local merchants to commission private token issues. The colonial government tolerated this parallel copper economy for years before finally acting — the Coinage Act of 1871 eventually swept most merchant tokens from circulation, making the decade between the major token-issuing period and suppression relatively short.
Andrews records two die varieties for this type, reflected in the dual reference numbers, likely indicating separate commissions or a replacement die after the first wore out.