OLD COPPER COINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20176, 9 February 1929, Page 14

OLD COPPER COINS.

Sir, —The report of an old copper coin having been found near Dunedin reminded me of a. somewhat similar coin I possess. The obverse bears head encircled by Carolus 11. Dei Gratia, and the reverse the Harp of Erin surmounted by a crown and bearing the date 1680, encircled by Mag. Br. Era. Hib. Rex. This I discovered among a considerable number of tradesmen's tokens or coppers in circulation when I was storekeeping in the early goldfields days. Children brought them to the store to buy sweets, and they were thrown into a tin and not reckoned as cash in hand. I "was asked by the agent of the local bank if I could rake him out a couple of shillings or so in sterling pennies, so I overhauled the contents of that tin and in doing so this ancient coin came to light. John M. Murray. 1, Kingsland Terrace.

Sir, —The copper coin found in Dunedin must be an old Irish coin. I often got them in change in the Old Country just ths same as the description of the ono found. They play a game there called pitch and toss, and when they toss the coins they,always cry head or harp, which shows that the harp was on the old money. I remember a lot of them being in circulation. I have also seen what we called pennies with George 111. and the harp. T.B.