NEW HALF-CROWN,

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 11

NEW HALF-CROWN,

TO BE ISSUED IN 1940.

SPECIAL CENTEIfXLJL DESIGN.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The dimensions and general designs of the Dominion's silver and bronze coinage, as defined under the Coinage Act, 1933, are set out in a coinage proclamation which was published in the form of a supplementary "Gazette," issued to-night. For the most part, the proclamation deals with coins which have been in circulation for some time, and with which the average New Zealander is already familiar, but provision is also made for the introduction of a Centennial half-crown, which will be issued during 1940. On the obverse side this will bear the uncrowned effigy of the King, with the inscription, "George VI., King Emperor." The design of the reverse impression will be the figure of a Maori woman imposed on a background showing the sun overhead, with a Maori wharepuni and puhara on her right and modern buildings on the left. The inscription will be "New Zealand Centennial Half-crown" within the border, and below on a scroll the dates 1840-1940. An official description of New Zealand coinage is contained in a proclamation issued by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, to-day. In a statement this evening the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, said the Coinage Act, 1933, provides for certain formalities in regard to coins accepted as legal tender in New Zealand. The Act required that the rtandard weight and composition of coins should be determined by proclamation. New Zealand silver coins had been in circulation for some time, with the exception of the special Centennial halfcrown, which will be issued for the first time in January. New Zealand bronze coins had only recently been released through the Reserve Bank. New Zealand now had a complete distinctive range of coins, the official description of which was contained in the proclamation.