NEW HALF-CROWN

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 110, 6 November 1933, Page 8

NEW HALF-CROWN

DESCEIPTION OF COIN

THE FIRST SHIPMENT

The first shipment of New Zealand's new half-crowns which is.now en route from the Boyal Mint to the Dominion is valued at £250,000, according to a statement made this afternoon by the Minister of Finance (the Bt. Hon.; J. G. Coates), who also gave a brief description of the newly-minted issue.

The Minister explained that tho head of his Majesty was retained on the obverse or "head" sido of the coin, in accordance with the uniform issue, and that side also bore tho inscription which applied to tho'ordinary currency. The reverse, or "tail", side, however, carried a different design. It contained the arm or shield from the armorial bearing's of New Zealand, surmounted by the Crown, and the shield was appropriately decorated : with Maori carvings to fill the field. It bore the inscription, "New Zealand Half-crown,-1933." Mr. Coates added that, supplies" of the remaining denominations would be shipped as they were completed by the Boyal Mint,' and it was anticipated that all requirements would be met by about the end of March next. Some delay had occurred in finalising the designs for the silver coins of smaller donomina'tions, but they were now.nearing completion and would bo released for publication when photographs came to hand. It was not intended to replace immediately the Imperial bronze coins in circulation in the Dominion. . ••■ ■ ■ ■• '• \

It was emphasised by tho Minister that the silver coins were for circulation within the Dominion only. Last session, he recalled, the Government was authorised to mako -arrangements with the Kpyal Mint for the', supply of new silver and bronze coins for use in New Zealand. Tho need for tho'new coins arose out of tho drift of Imperial coin from the Dominion' to England, as a result of which the . supply, of token currency was becoming depleted in spite of the regulations, introduced with the object .of' preventing such shortage. Consequently it was decided to arrange for the minting of a new set of New Zealand coins, , and the enactment referred to was tho necessary preliminary step. •

•Legislation had already been introduced to replace certain . Imperial enactments relating to coinage which were at present in force in New, Zealand and governed the' situation as to the existing issues. Asa completely now and distinctive set of designs had to bo struck, the present Idgal prol visions required to be revised accordingly, and the> new Coinage"1 Bill was introduced with that object in view. Based on last year's legislation, a supply of the new coins - was ordered some time ago, and the first-consign-ment, consisting of half-crowns of a total face values of £250\000, was now on its way to New Zealand.