New Zealand ND penny token KM-Tn40
The first specimen was lot 24576 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "NEW ZEALAND. Wellington. Lipman Levy. Penny Token, ND. PCGS SP-65 BN Secure Holder. Rarity 7-8. VERY RARE especially so in this state of preservation. 'Importer and Manufacturer of Boots & Shoes' at center in five-lines, 'Lipman Levy. Wellington. New Zealand.' around; Reverse: Draped and laureate bust right, 'Wellington & Erin Go Brach' around. Sharply struck as would be expected from the designated grade displaying lovely chocolate patina with an attractive blue sheen. Specimen strike made for collectors. Stack's Bowers & Ponterio ANA 2013, lot# 35149." The second specimen was lot 52447 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description[2] noted, "NEW ZEALAND. Copper Penny Token, ND (1857). PCGS SPECIMEN-64 Brown. A beautiful and RARE Token specially struck, the present specimen yields soft chocolate brown color across the devices and a touch of light patina. Much glossiness is retained, leaving this example a beautiful representative sure to command much attention." The SCWC comments, "Because of a shortage of British money, New Zealand merchant tokens were issued beginning in 1857. There were some 147 varieties issued in 10 cities, although the majority were issued in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin."
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: copper, 34 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Andrews-323; Lampard-328b; KM-TN40; Gray-162b; Renniks-324.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, John Kraljevich and Cris Chatigny, The January 2018 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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