MORE OLD COINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 235, 3 October 1924, Page 10

MORE OLD COINS.

MANY" COLLECTOBS. There must he a very great number of coin collectors in Auckland. Every day since the publication of a paragraph concerning a silver penny people have been calling at the "Star" oltice to display their wealth in ancient coinage. One man had a small, thick, crudelycast coin which he said he thought was a Roman penny. He said that he had been told by an export that there were only two of these in the world. Where the other one was he did not say. Wait a Roman penny? He desired to have the matter placed beyond all doubt. Tlie coin was evidently of very great age, but as the design was almost indecipherable it was not possible to say whether or not it was a Roman penny. Constable Putt, of Onehunga, displayed to a "Star" representative a gold piece for which he had refused £50 several years ago. This is a Queen Anno, guinea. On one side is the inscription: "Queen Anna, Dei Gratia, 1714."' (in the reverse side are the words: "Mag. Bri. Fret. Reg. 1714." Mrs. B. Tomlinson. of Domain Boad, submitted for inspection a IJtl piece, dated 1842, a crown dated IH2ti, a George the Fourth half-crown dated 1818, and a sixpence dated 1526. In this collection there is also an interesting token reminiscent of early Auckland. This is a trado penny, issued by "M. Somerville, Family Grocer, Auckland,"' in 1857. Mr. W. B. Parrie, of the Grand Theatre, shoyVed an Irish penny (about the size of our half-penny) dated 1766, a George 111. penny dated 1709, and two tokens dated 1835 and 1857. The token containing the latter date yvas found during the demolition of some old buildings in Carlton, Melbourne. The face of this coin bears the head of a Professor Holloway, of London, and on the reverse side is the figure of a woman, seated on a high chair, holding j a standard around which a snake is • curved. This token was legal tender j in its day. It is of bronze, and ahouf the size of a five-shilling piece.