Crowbie, Clapperton & Findlay - Drapers
Description
Crombie, Clapperton and Findlay issued one halfpenny token while at 41 Lonsdale Street, between 1854 and 1856. According to Sharples, the tokens were struck by Reginald Scaife at the Kangaroo Office mint in either late 1854 or early 1855, roughly the same time as Crombie, Clapperton & Findlay & Co. were advertising in the back pages of the Melbourne Directory.
Crombie, Clapperton and Findlay began business as Drapers at 13 Lonsdale Street West in 1853. The following year they had moved to 41-45 Lonsdale Street West. During 1856 they moved to 11 Collins Street, the site where Adamson, Watts, McKechnie & Co. had become insolvent the previous year. In 1859 AG Clapperton, drapers and outfitters opened a business in Madeline Street, North Melbourne, then a new part of the city. The business did not last long. Clapperton and Findlay had gone broke.
Gardner asserts that Crombie was originally from Glasgow and that after he left the partnership he returned to England and acted as an agent for several Australian businesses. He was a representative of the Hotham Ward on the Melbourne City Council from 1855 to 1856. Clapperton was also said to be from Glasgow and was apparently distinguished by being both tall and handsome, and a very dressy man. He is said to have become a bank manager in Smythesdale before eventually moving to New Zealand. He died in that colony. Mr. A. Findlay's place of birth and death are unknown. While he was a partner in Crombie, Clapperton & Findlay, Mr Findlay was also in a partnership with Walter Adamson of Adamson, Watts and McKechnie & Co. According to the 1855 Melbourne Directory, Adamson, Findlay & Co had a drapers and outfitters business that year. It was not listed in later directories.
Crowbie, Clapperton & Findlay - Drapers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | $59.30 | $127 | $242 | $514 |
| Varieties | MS-60 | MS-62 | MS-63 | MS-64 | MS-65 | MS-66 | MS-67 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $635 | $756 | - | - | - | - | - |
Specifications
- Issuer: Crombie Clapperton & Findlay
- Denomination : Half Penny
- Composition: Copper
- Die axis: ↑↓
- Weight: 7.6 grams
- Diameter: 28 mm
- Edge: Smooth
- Renniks #: 94
- Andrews #: 84
- Gray #: 52
Last update : Thursday, November 5, 2020
