‘WARLIKE SHILLING’

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 181, 30 April 1934, Page 8

‘WARLIKE SHILLING’

Experts Criticise New Zealand Coins DISTINCTIVE DESIGNS “Ginger-beer Bottles” on Threepenny Pieces Designs on the new New Zealand coins were discussed and criticised at a recent meeting of the New Zealand Numismatic Society. The general opinion was that the designs werfe distinctive and attractive, and reflected great credit on the selection committee and the designer concerned. Professor J. Rankine Brown (president) said the designs were distinctive and pleasing as a whole. They had been well received by the public. The designs were certainly superior to those adopted by Australia and some other parts of the Empire. The change-over from the English and Australian coins to New Zealand coins was apparently being carried out smoothly and speedily. He was pleased to acknowledge the co-operation between the Government and the societies interested. Technical Defects. Mr. I-I. G. Mayer agreed that, from the technical point of view, the designs were characteristic and satisfactory in the main. The kiwi on the florin was faithfully represented, but rather large. The hula on the sixpence, although attractive and generally admir- ■ ed at first glance, did not come up to expectations from a technical or production point of view. The wings were not satisfactorily treated, and the white tips of the tail feathers could have been more effectively marked. The relief in other cases was good, and the designs had been treated lyMr. Johannes C. Andersen said that on the whole the new coins were distinctively New Zealand in design. Whereas New Zealand shared with other countries in mountain, flord and other scenery, she was alone in certain of her characteristic birds, as well as the Maori element, which had always formed a unique and interesting feature of New Zealand life. The halfcrown had been considered too ornate, but that was inevitable with a crowned shield, and the encircling carvings did no more than- carry a little further a character the coin already possessed. The florin design had received much praise. The kiwi had been particularly well designed, and was clear-cut in appearance. The feathers, which were more .hairlike than those of birds generally, had been faithfully depicted. The bristles at the root of the bill, dev licate as they were, came out clearly. The only suggestion was that the ground should be slightly stippled, to avoid the suggestion given b> the present line oi merely cutting the design in two. Shilling “Too Warlike.” The shilling was good, but it would have been preferable had the Maori been depicted in a less warlike attitude. A design in line with the Maori on the Hector Research medal—which showed a Maori crouched alert, trailing a taiha in one hand and shading his eyes with the other—would, have been preferable. A frontal view would have been better. The figure itself was quite good. The shoulder muscles were nicely modelled, and the whole attitude alert. The sixpence, which depicted the huia, presented a' design that was dainty in the extreme. “The threepenny bit,” said Mr. Andersen, “although quite distinctive, is not quite so successful. The patus, or carved meres, have beeu likened to ginger-beer bottles, but only by thosewho do not know what they are. Ignorance of the characteristics of the country in which they live does not give weight to the criticisms of such people.” He had been asked, “How would outside people know what they represent?” His reply was that if they did not know they would ask, and would not forget, and they would carry away with them further knowledge of this distinctive country. In relation to the legend, however, the patus were upside down, or else the thongs should be made to hang downwards or be otherwise treated. This was a minor matter which could be corrected in any future mintings. Well-balanced Series. Mr. Allan Sutherland said that it was pleasing to hear expressions of approval regarding the coinage designs, which were the result of much painstaking care on the part of the Designs Selection Committee. Despite the limited time available, and certain technical difficulties, the results were surprisingly good, and indicated that the time and trouble taken had been worth while. He would not say that he was entirely satisfied with every design, for minor improvements could be suggested in certain directions, but in the main the series reflected much credit on the designer. The subjects were well balanced, the relief was bold and effective, and the designs.faithfully typified New Zealand characteristics in a pleasing manner. It was not an easy matter to select coinage designs, owing to technical difficulties. The modern trend of coinage designs was simplicity, vitality, and distinctiveness, with a good relief, and all these features were exemplified on the New Zealand coins. The New Zealand coinage designs were prepared by Mr. Kruger Gray, a foremost British coinage designer in consultation with the committee of artists attached to the Royal Mint, and under the direction of the N.Z. Coinage Designs Committee. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance, presided over this committee, and associated with him were the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. A. D. Park), two representatives of the New Zealand Numismatic Society (Professor J. Rankine Brown and Mr. Allan Sutherland, F.R.N.S.), two representatives of the New*Zealand Association of Art Societies (Dr. Carbery and Mr. J. M. Ellis), also Mr. Nigel Connell, of Eltham. It Is understood that the arrangements in connection with the design of the Waitangi crown are now being finalised, and that there is no immediate intention to issue the penny and the .halfpenny to complete the New Zealand series. ___________