Queen Street Wharf Tokens, Auckland, NZL

[Kushi]

For an online catalogue of bridge, toll road and city gate tokens, I would like to hear from collectors owning either of the following. Several varieties exist of each piece.

1.  T S F  SIX PENCE, stamped incuse on oval blanks. (=Thornton, Smith & Firth, flour miller)
2.  QUEEN STREET WHARF AUCKLAND, stamped incuse on penny and halfpenny trade tokens.

[Figleaf]

How do you know these are bridge, toll road or city gate tokens? They could just as well (or even more likely) have been used for loading and unloading or for empty sack control.

Peter

[Kushi]

Bravo Peter. Thanks for the insight regarding the usage of the QSW 6 pence tokens.

Indeed, these discs could never have been used for pedestrians crossing the bridge into the Wharf. The amount is much too high for the mid-19th century. These tokens were issued by the Wharf and TSF for the concessionaire to collect wagon fees entering the port. See the Provincial Gazette published in the New Zealand Herald for 14 January 1866. Every four wheeled vehicle pulled by one horse is one shilling, each additional horse is six pence.