Page 39 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-006

Coins

yet belong to any nation. A few Frenchmen He then contacted Henry Cooper Jervis, an
had settled there and commercial exchanges Australian painter and engraver who had
were already under way, in particular with already proven himself by drawing and en-
a certain Mr. James Paddon, a British man graving stamps for Australia Post.
who was also one of Robert Towns’ direct Cooper designed and engraved a copper
competitors. plate, now held in a Sydney library, and pro-
He had been on the island for two years, and tected it from prying eyes under number
like Towns, tried to sell his wares to the hi- R147-889799
ghest bidders. An appointment and membership card are
Robert Towns thought that if he created required before being afforded the privile-
a currency that resembled an English is- ge of consulting and touching the object in
sue, then it might be adopted when the question. Lest we forget, it is 170 years old
Australians or English took over New Cale- and the curator remains vigilant whenever
donia, and thus recognised as ‘THE’ official the plate is entrusted to an applicant...
currency.

Here the printable side to be pressed can be seen

Rear side of the plate,
at the very bottom (it
reads):
Drawn and engraved
from an original sketch
by Francis Benedict
Mulligan

The plate, having made
its way down through
the years, still bears the
traces of ink and press,
and is slightly blacke-
ned. It must be held
up to the light to reveal
the myriad of scissor
strokes that brought it
to life.

Delcampe Magazine 39