1860 Hogarth and Erichsen Threepence - PCGS AU53

1860 Hogarth and Erichsen Threepence

PCGS AU53

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Australia, 1860 Hogarth and Erichsen Threepence -

One of Australia’s earliest silver threepences were the private issues of Messrs Julius Hogarth and Conrad Erichsen. Struck to meet local demand for small coinage, the reverse of the most common design (as above) carries a large “3” encircled by a wreath of wattle and was modelled after the reverse of the British threepence, while the obverse bears a kangaroo, emu, and the Australian grass tree. The numbers minted are unknown, and Erichsen often struck coins at his own pleasure, according to Australaisian Tokens and Coins by Dr Arthur Andrews. The quality of the silver was also often inferior to the British threepence that it was attempting to imitate, and many pieces were required to be withdrawn. For Sydneysiders, the tokens were minted in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt. Today, these tokens are popular with coin collectors, collectors of Australiana, and historians. They’re the closest thing we had to small change in silver during the high Victorian age, and are an important part of Australia’s colonial past.

Grades PCGS AU53.

Product ID: 186040409001

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