Coins and Australia - James Mayn Leigh - Tobacconist - Commercial and merchant tokens

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James Mayn Leigh - Tobacconist

James Mayn Leigh - Tobacconist

Description

James Mayn Leigh was born in Penzance, Cornwall and arrived in Sydney on the China as a Bounty Immigrant in 1841, aged 21. On arriving in Sydney he worked for Hugh Dixson, tobacconist. In 1848 he married Maria Catherine McKaeg at Scots Presbyterian Church.

In December 1849 Leigh began trading as a tobacconist at 524 George Street East, Sydney. He moved to number 137 in 1854 and added wine retailing to his business. His tokens have the 524 address on them, so they must have been struck between 1851 and 1854. When the street was re-numbered in 1858 his address became 282/284 George Street, possibly indicating that Leigh had enlarged his store in the same year. Leigh's was still trading at the same address in 1861.

In 1861 Leigh formed a partnership with John Watkins and established a wholesale grocers, tobacconists and wine merchants at 422 George Street under the name of Watkins and Leigh. The business at 284 George Street continued as J.M. Leigh and Co. In the May 1861 editions of the Sydney Morning Herald, he advised 'Wholesale Buyers. The business was listed at the same address until 1865.

Leigh was honorary treasurer of the Intercolonial Cricket Match Committee and was a committee member of the NSW Rifle Association. In 1862 he was a director of the Pacific Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Pitt Street, Sydney and in 1863 he became a member of the provisional committee for the Sydney Gas Company. In 1864 he was elected as chairman of the committee for the All-England Eleven cricket tour to be held in March 1865. James and his wife moved to Dublin, Ireland where he died in 1875. Maria died there in 1881.

James Mayn Leigh - Tobacconist 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.

Slide

Varieties AG-3 G-4 VG-8 F-12 VF-20 EF-40 AU-50
---$15.10$30.20$58.00$218
Varieties MS-60 MS-62 MS-63 MS-64 MS-65 MS-66 MS-67
$399$580-----

Specifications

  • Issuer: J.M. Leigh
  • Denomination : Penny
  • Composition: Copper
  • Die axis: ↑↑
  • Weight: 15.6 grams
  • Diameter: 34 mm
  • Edge: Smooth
  • Renniks #: 320
  • Andrews #: 319
  • Gray #: 160

Last update : Wednesday, January 19, 2022

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