This J. Caro & Co. copper penny token was issued between 1860 and 1864 in Christchurch. During the mid-19th century, a chronic shortage of official British regal coinage forced local merchants to issue their own private currency to facilitate daily transactions. This specimen represents a critical era of Canterbury colonial commerce, featuring the merchant's name and location, which served as both a medium of exchange and a form of local advertisement.
country: New Zealand
year: 1860–64
denomination: trade token
grade: vg
Grade VG means visible wear with all major details legible, reflecting a well-used but authentic survivor of the period.
