New Coins for Hawaii.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 4066, 28 July 1883, Page 5 (Supplement)

New Coins for Hawaii.

KING KALAKAUA was, it appears, anxious a short time ago to enrich his dominions— the Hawaiian Islands—with a mint, and it was only on the representations made by his ministers, who pointed out that his project, as a business enterprise, would be a losing concern, that he relented so far as to agree to his coins beinu made in an American mint. He insisted, however, that they should be distinctly Hawaiian, and that they should have h s eltigy upon them, expressing his distaste ior the English or American money that bas hitbertoo been current In his realm*. A gnod deal of correspondence on the subject -was exchanged between the superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint, and tie King, whose impatience to obtain his coius was extreme, the monarci explaining that he wanted to have his portrait whilst he was ia his prime, and not wait until age and baldness overtook him. After prolonged negotiations, the " New York Times " states that King Kalakaua has been pacified by receipt of the inteUigence that designs were being made, and the dies about to be cast. The precise design has not, however, yet been determined on; but it is decided that on one side of the coin there shall be his Majesty's profile, and on the other, unless he objects, a portion of tbe great seal of his country. The denominations of the coins will be indicated in the Hawaiian and English languages, and in size, weight, and value the money will be the same as that used in the United States.