BRITANNIA REGAINS HER LIGHTHOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 27

BRITANNIA REGAINS HER LIGHTHOUSE

Pennies of the new reign were issued by .the Soyalj.Mint yesterday to the joint stock banks (said the "Daily Telegraph" on April 13). A first impression is that the head of King George VI is a good and pleasing likenes^, and that it stands' out in bold relief. :

Just below the neck are two.letters, "H.P.," so minute that they: can scarcely be read with the'naked eye. They are the initials of Mr. T. H. Paget, the; portrait modeller, to whom the King/gave a sitting at Christmas, and whose design was accepted.! ' '] ■. ,:' . , ■■, ..■' ■■

On the reverse, designed by Mr. G. Kruger Gray, there is a lighthouse to the left of Britannia. This is a partial concession to a large body- of public opinion which would have liked to. see restored the lighthouse and the ship in full sail, as on the pennies of the middle years of-Queen-Victoria's reign. Britannia-has appeared on the copper coins since the reign of Charles 11, but it was not until much.later that the ship was introduced. I^his was not, however, apart of-'every'design. ' \

In 1860, when the lighthouse was first included, the ship .was restored to its old place.' Both again disappeared from the; later pennies of the Queen's reign, and this is the first time for over 30 .years that either of the emblem* has been used on our coinage. A study of the coin in closer detail

shows that the shield embossed with the Union Jack, which Britannia is. holding; is turned at a slightly different angle from that shown in the, coins of King George V, while Britannia's flowing robes, are a little less,elaborately draped, and fall over the shield in a slightly different way. The figures of the date are larger than those on the pennies of 1936.'•■'-. His Majesty's head is facing towards the left-^-the same direction as the head on the coins of George V's _ reign. is in conformity with the custom that the head of each succeeding monarch should appear on the coinage facing in the reverse .direction. .. : ,

Had any coinage been minted during the reign of Edward VIII-the King's head would, have been shown looking' towards the right: ' '■"

On the obverse side the. inscription is: "GEORGIVS VI D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP:." The corresponding inscription on the George V penny was: "GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEFrIND: IMP." The reduction from 38 to 28 letters has enabled the inscription to be presented in much greater boldness and distinction.

On the reverse side there are just the two words: "One.Penny.". ,

It is understood that only, a very small number- of these coins : was issued yesterday—probably not more han a few dozen to each bank.