Kiama & Jamberoo Allen Pennies

In the early years of the colony there was very little small change about, so shopkeepers and traders often commissioned their own tokens to be made and used as currency in their businesses. John Craven (J.C.) Thornthwaite was the first person to manufacture tokens and medals in Australia.

Born in London in 1820, John married in 1848 then migrated to Sydney the following year. His first known token is dated 1850. In 1855, Thornthwaite was commissioned to make some tokens for John Allen’s General Store of Kiama and also for his relative William Allen’s General Store in Jamberoo.

The pennies were 34 mm in diameter and made of copper. One side featured the name of the issuer, John Allen (or William Allen) General Stores Kiama (or Jamberoo), surrounding a central image of a rose, shamrock and thistle bouquet. On the other side of the coin it features a rough version of the Coat of Arms of NSW, with ADVANCE AUSTRALIA 1855.

Unfortunately, Thornthwaite didn’t have the necessary equipment or raw material to make the tokens with precision, and subsequently both sets of tokens were rejected because of their poor workmanship. After his tokens were rejected, they were 'disposed of by Thornthwaite at a penny each to the toll gatekeeper at Annandale [Sydney], who passed them on in change to the hapless wayfarers' (Andrews, 1921). Tokens were declared illegal in NSW in 1868.

Today, the Kiama Allen penny is priceless as there are only four known coins still in existence, one of which resides in the British Museum and one in Museum Victoria. The Jamberoo Allen penny is also among the most desirable of early colonial tokens as there are 25 still in existence, and it has been known to have sold at auction for $6000.

The front view of both the John Allen and the William Allen pennies

John Allen / General Stores / Kiama

William Allen / General Stores / Jamberoo

Closer view of the front of the pennies