token BM-1979-0507.74

Period:Unknown Production date:19thC-20thC
Materials:copper alloy
Technique:

Dimensions:Diameter: 28 millimetres Weight: 7.13 grammes

Description:
Copper alloy token. (whole)
IMG


Comments:The following information is from KONDi, posted on http://china-mint.info/forum/index.php?topic=6635.0 (accessed 24 June 2013): The best source of information on Shanghai tokens is “The Coins of Shanghai” by A. M. Tracey Woodward, published in the China Journal for August 1937 (shortly before his death), and reprinted that same year in the Bulletin of the Numismatic Society of China.– Hall & Holtz bread tokens: The company began business in Shanghai in the mid 1800’s (September 1855), was founded by Edward Hall and Andrew Holtz. Woodward interviewed workers at the Hall & Holtz company, which was still in business in the 1930’s, and one of them told him in 1929 that the original tokens were made in England about 30 to 35 years earlier, sometime in the 1890’s (between 1899 to 1894) with a round hole in the center. Most collectors belive that these tokens were made around 1895. In 1925 the business was sold to a Mr. J. Neil, so the counterstamp was put on beginning in 1925. To distinguish the old tokens from those issued under his authority, the round hole was repunched into a square hole and the letter “N” (for Neil) was stamped on them. So all the tokens were made around 1895, but those with a square hole and letter “N” were used in the 1920’s and 1930’s. There is another type of Hall & Holtz token, which comes in values of one loaf (about 31mm) and one small loaf (26mm) with round centerhole and apparently in copper (or brass). These have on one side a long inscription in English, and on the other side, the value in English in the center, surrounded by a ring of Chinese characters. I have never seen one of these for sale, and they are not listed by Woodward. The second series of tokens, just mentioned, says in English “Estab. 1848” but this must refer to Holtz in business by himself before the partnership. Hall didn’t arrive in Shanghai till 1850. the tokens are copper-nickel. Diameters: (1) one loaf: 27,40mm – 27,50mm; (2) 2) half loaf: 33mm. The weights are not constant. Woodward lists the half loaf at 106 to 111 grains and the one loaf at 175 to 184 grains. Woodward says they are sometimes found with counterstamped numbers. I would guess only 5 to 10 pieces have come up for sale in the past 40 years. (1) A half loaf with “N” sold on Ebay 22nd May 2011 for 898 USD:http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-HALL-HOLTZ-LTD-SHANGHAI-CHINA-TRADE-TOKEN-/200607858979?item=200607858979&ViewItem=&nma=true&si=tZGY1%2F7bTE2kGrGvu2uVxHETnDo%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557(2) On 27th Sep. 2012 identical piece sold for 699 USD:http://www.ebay.com/itm/China-Shanghai-Hall-Holtz-c1898-1-2-Loaf-with-N-Token-RRR-/221128101122?nma=true&si=tZGY1%2F7bTE2kGrGvu2uVxHETnDo%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Chinese references: The chips and coupons in old Shanghai, which includes beautiful clear pictures of all tokens made in Shanghai and also some coupons. More information about old Shanghai bread token on:http://www.virtualshanghai.net/Photos/Images?ID=150 and http://www.shme.com/old_shanghai/wing.htm The following information is from Dr Gary Oddie of the Token Corresponding Society, 24 June 2013: “By coincidence this is the second request I have received this month about Hall & Holtz, however, your illustration is not of the normal type “ONE LOAF” or “HALF LOAF”.There is a whole list of other data here http://china-mint.info/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=6d4572985bd5043790c2f3367fee2b78&topic=6635.15, but not one of your tokens.More information is in “The Coins of The British Commonwealth of Nations to the end of the reign of George VI 1952″ Part 2 Asian Territories 1965 by F.Pridmore. pp324-5 which is where the suggestion that they were struck in England c.1895-1900 comes from, but again, your token with the portrait is not there.Just had a look at the BM enlarged picture – a bit fuzzy, but I bet the name on the bottom of the neck of the portrait is HEATON. This would be consistent with the Birmingham Mint and either Ralph Heaton III or Ralph Heaton IV.I think this is pretty conclusive, and your token provides the missing link between the usual Hall and Holtz bread tokens and the Heaton/Birmingham mint.” Updated information from Kondi, 25 June 2013: http://china-mint.info/forum/index.php?topic=6635.45: Similar, but not identical token, sold at auction: Noble Numismatics Pty Ltd, Sale 61, Lot 1155 “Ralph Heaton & Sons Coiners / Head of Libertad Right”, 4–6 Aug 1999, Dallas Brooks Centre, Melbourne, Australia. http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot/?id=82440.