MORE ANCIENT COINS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 99, 21 January 1926, Page 12

MORE ANCIENT COINS

WILLIAM AND MARY AND CHARLES

Recent paragraphs iu The DO mi nion concerning the possession of ancient coins by residents in Wellington have created widespread interest, and reports are coming to hand of other rare pieces. Mr. A. N. Stewart, of 17 Stanley Street, called at The dominion office yesterday and exhibited a William and Mary shilling piece, dated 1629. The coin was in a state of excellent preservation, except that a hole had been bored in it in order to suspend it on a watcliguard.

Senior-Sergeant Alartin, officer _ in charge of Mount Cook police station, showed a DOMINION' reporter yesterday a rare coin in the form of a Charles II five-sliilling piece. This coin, which he values highly, was presented to him on his leaving Ashburton in 1913. A correspondent writes from Waipawa: “Having read an article iu The dominion on ‘Ancient Coins,’ I should be very grateful if you could put me in touch with tiie gentleman collector who is the lucky possessor of n William and Alary threepenny piece. Among a few coins which I brought out from England with me 14 years ago I have discovered a and Alarv fourpenny piece, also an Elizabethan coin dated 1579 and a George 111 sixpenny piece. It would be interesting to consult someone as to the approximate value of these coins.” Yet another, collector of old coins called at The Dominion office yesterday with a list of some of the interesting coins in his collection, which includes ancient Greek coins dating back to 213 8.C., and in a wonderful state of preservation. One of the jewels of the collection is a very rare solid silver Roman coin of the reign of the Emperor Cominodius (A.D. 192). Amongst others are a tiny Edward II silver pennv, dated 1319; several Charles I silver coins, including a Briat shilling, which is not a minted coin, being merely hammered out into a rough oblong shape and then having the “head” and “tail” stamped on; a George I sovereign, looking as new as if onlv just minted; a William; 111 fiveshilling piece of. 1696, and a very rare eighteenpenny piece of 1813. Of more recent date are a full set of Jubilee coins, and a complete series of Kruger coins. Asked where he had secured his fine collection, he replied that the majority had been procured in New Zealand.