Lot 1620

Description

Temple Tavern, Adelaide, Twopence, currency note, August 10, 1852 (printed date), no. 267, on unwatermarked paper, signed by E. Solomon, stating on front 'I Promise to pay the bearer, on demand, the sum of TWOPENCE in cash here, Or, if required, any number of these Notes amounting to even Pounds, in Bank Notes of this Province', Dark blue on light blue, (A similar example sold Spink Noble Sale 36 lot 2686 and illustrated). Four major folds and several minor folds, some discolouration on back, otherwise good fine and very rare.

The discovery of gold in New South Wales and Victoria in 1851 caused much of the population to move to the various goldfields. This migration created problems for trade and commerce generally. At Adelaide, a third of the population decamped to the goldfields in Victoria, taking much of the circulating currency with them. This resultant shortage of money lead directly to the production of alternative currencies ranging from the gold Adelaide pound to metallic tokens and various paper currency notes like this example, and the examples in the next few lots. The issue is very similar to the E.J.F. Crawford issue for the Hindmarsh Hotel for five shillings (see illustration p.52, Australian Numismatic Journal, 1976). An interesting historical note issued in a year and place important to Australian numismatics.