J.W.& G. Williams - General Store Keepers
Description
John Williams came to Melbourne from his native Yorkshire in 1849. His brother George joined him only a year or so later. When the Gold Rush began, the brothers tried their luck in the Bendigo gold fields and ended up establishing a general store in Eaglehawk. Their token, issued without a date, gives a good idea of the range of their business. They described themselves as ironmongers, grocers, drapers, gold office, wine and spirit merchant, and colonial produce merchant.
The brothers worked their store until 1876 when they terminated their partnership. John continued in their original business and George opened another store in the same town. Both brothers were married. John died in 1883, and George died in 1908 or 1909. John had an active interest in the affairs of the community, serving as a councillor for many years, twice as mayor of the Borough.
The brothers issued one variety of tokens, which are undated, and are the subject of disagreement among experts, according to Sharples they were made in England, while Heyde believes they were a Gold Office piece and according to Andrews they were struck by Stokes. Sharples estimates 1858 to be the year of issue.
J.W.& G. Williams - General Store Keepers values and prices
The value of an Australian token depends on several factors such as quality and wear, supply and demand, rarity, finish and more.
- Circulated
- Uncirculated
| Varieties | AG-3 | G-4 | VG-8 | F-12 | VF-20 | EF-40 | AU-50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | $93.30 | $224 | $425 | $992 |
| Varieties | MS-60 | MS-62 | MS-63 | MS-64 | MS-65 | MS-66 | MS-67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,560 | $2,130 | - | - | - | - | - |
Specifications
- Denomination : Penny
- Renniks #: 598
- Andrews #: 638
- Gray #: 312
Last update : Sunday, July 13, 2025
