NEW COINS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 89, 9 January 1940, Page 5

NEW COINS

Centennial Issue interesting details of the designing and striking of the New Zealand centennial halferown, penny, and halfpenny pieces, issued by the Royal Mint, which are now' in circulation, and the silver and bronze medals struck by the New Zealand Numismatic Society were given by Mr. P. W. Rule,'a vicepresident of the society, during an interview in Timaru. .Mr. Rule said that, at a recent meeting of the Numismatic Society, at which Mr. Johannes Andersen presided, Hie chairman welcomed Sir •Lillies Elliott, who had represented the society on the Government Coinage Advisory Committee, ami had taken Hie opportunity, when in Lon- ’ don, Io assist in completing the details of the designs of the three New Zealand centennial coins. Discussing Hie centennial tialfcrown and the new bronze coins. Sir Janies said Hint considerable difficulty had been experienced in adapting Hie approved designs to suit the require- ' meats of the Royal Mint. Though • the final designs had been substantially the same as the photographs previously '. published, certain minor variations had ■ been made to improve the effectiveness of the designs. ! Sir James mentioned Hint I lie . frontal view of the Maori woman on the centennial halferown, and the ’ perspective of the background st rm-. ' lures presented unusual difficulties which had been cleverly overcome by the efficient staff al. the Royal Mint. ■ The Illi design for the penny presented ] less difficulty, hut Hie foliage of the kowliai blossoms had to be siigiiHA' varied. H was difficult in metal to obtain a good effect will, leathery leaves. The tiki on the halfpenny required some inodilicatiou, and Sir ~ James had said that, being a medical , man. he was able to explain tne symbolism of this Maori design and c to secure an accurate representation. ■- Mr. Rule mentioned that Sir James surprised members by exhibiting e advance strikes of the centennial halfo crown in t in. amlof I lie penny and ha 11e penny in bronze. The specimens were presented to the society's collection. " Mr. Rule continued that Professor J. R. Brown had remarked that: the

designing of coins was obviously a matter for specialists, which had been borne out when dealing with the earlier series of coins, ami Mr. Allan Sutherland said that from previous experience he sympathized with those who were required to reconcile, couilieling viewpoints regarding coinage designs. The chairman. Mr. Johannes Andersen. hud remariled Hint he was agreeably surprised with the results achieved. Both the tui and the tiki made good designs, and the centennial halferown was effective. The original design proposed for the halferown contained a plethora of detail, which had been progressively shorn away, ■and the final result was satisfactory. While acknowledging the need for following the advice of experts as far as possible in deciding coin designs, he strongly resisted any claim that the people. who used the coins, should not have a full right, through local consultation, to press for the adoption of designs which they considered were truly representative of the country.