THE THREEPENNY BITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 8

THE THREEPENNY BITS.

The new threepenny bits recently minted in Knrlan<l do not seem to be circulating as they should, according to the authorities. This is probably due to the attractive character of these little twelve-sided, gold-looking coins with their witty thrift design. One prefers, almost unconsciously, to part with coppers. Certainly the Mint cannot be held responsible for a shortage, for since the first was struck in April more than 20,000,000 of them have been put into circulation. So infrequently are they seen that shoppers who receive one in change often inquire what it is under the impression that a foreign coin ha* lioon received. Bus conductors confess thev are not often given one of the new bits, and shopkeepers rarely find them passed over the counter. Supplies in the banks are limited, but the coins are available if asked for, and some customers commonly take away several pounds' worth. But, readily as the banks pay them out, they dp not get them back again. Big as appears the number produced, it amounts after all to no more than one of the new pieces for every two members of the population, so that they are sufficiently uncommon for people to keep in their pockets. Anyway, they can't all have reached Aberdeen yet.