Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a counterfeiter of fake sovereigns.

1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 92: Varnisher, an utterer of false sovereigns.
1901		Argus (Melbourne) 20 Sept. 6/4: The man who makes [counterfeit money] is a bit faker, a queer bit-maker, a queer cole maker, while if his talent takes the form of colouring shillings to pass as sovereigns he is a varnisher .