Melbourne 1854 1/2 penny token KM-Tn248

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Steve Album sale 54, lot 3368

This specimen was lot 3368 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "AUSTRALIA: AE halfpenny token, 1854, T. W. Thomas & Co., Melbourne, Victoria, F-VF." Filling a shortage of coinage in the expanding economy, private tokens flourished until finally being banned in the 1870's. The SCWC lists nearly three hundred varieties. Today most are very scarce. Numista comments, "This commemorates the landing of Sir Charles Hotham on 22 June 1854 to take up the post of Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria (22 June 1854 to 22 May 1855). He become the 1st. Governor of Victoria from 22 May to 10 November 1855. He died in Melbourne on 31 December 1855." While half penny tokens were very common in Great Britain (especially the Conder tokens), most Australian tokens were of the penny denomination, perhaps a result of higher prices. This example sold for one-third of the catalog value.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 8.2 g, copper, 28 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-Tn248.

Source:

  • McDonald, Greg, The Pocket Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes, 23rd ed., Lavington, Australia, 2017.
  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • Pitt, Michael, Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values, 32nd Edition, Matraville, New South Wales, Australia: Renniks Publications, 2023.
  • [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.

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