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1 Penny - William Morgan Adelaide, South Australia
| Issuer | William Morgan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1858 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Andrews#385, R#380, Gray#202 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | The reverse depicts a draped allegorical female figure, helmeted in the classical manner, seated facing slightly left upon a rocky outcrop or bale, holding a pair of scales in her outstretched left hand, symbolising commerce and justice. To the lower left, a sailing vessel is visible on water, representing maritime trade and Australia's colonial connections. At lower right, a treasure chest or bale further emphasises mercantile themes, while additional produce appears at the figure's feet. The legend AUSTRALIA arcs across the upper field in evenly spaced letters, and the date 1858 appears in the lower exergue, all enclosed within a beaded border. |
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| Reverse lettering | AUSTRALIA 1858 |
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| Additional information |
William Morgan operated as a draper and outfitter in Adelaide, issuing these tokens in 1858 during a period when official copper coinage was chronically undersupplied in the Australian colonies. The colonial government had no local mint at the time — the Sydney Mint was striking gold sovereigns, not small change — leaving retailers to fill the gap themselves. Morgan's tokens circulated as genuine commercial currency, not novelties.
Andrews 385 is among the more precisely documented of the South Australian merchant issues, cross-referenced consistently across the Andrews, Renniks, and Gray series catalogues without significant variety disputes.