DOMINION COINAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21454, 30 March 1933, Page 11

DOMINION COINAGE

QUESTION OF DESIGN UNIFORMITY OPPOSED ATTRACTIVE DESIGNS URGED A meeting of the New Zealand Numismatic Society was held in Wellington, when discussion took place regarding the proposed designs and denominations oi the New Zealand coinage to be introduced shortly. Some apprehension was expressed 10 at a statement made by one member that C ' an impression had gone abroad, apparf' ently on good foundation, that the Govy ernment had already decided on the designs for the new coins which were to bear the old coat of arms of the Dominion on one side, and the King's head on the y other, and that "the coins were to be n hustled out in large quantities as quickly '• as possible." The president, Rev. D. C. Bates, stated i- that the Government was to be congratup lated on deciding to issue coins of a diss tinctive New Zealand design, thus placing y New Zealand on the numismatic map of r the world. A New Zealand coinage had e long been discussed by New Zealand numismatists, and it had been advocated , by society ever since its inception. - The advantages of a special coinage were ) well known. Trafficking in silver coin as a result of the high exchange had forced tho situation, and the Government had j taken the only reasonable step to meet ' the position. It was to be hoped that the designs of the coins would possess some ' artistic merit, and that they, would be worthy of the Dominion. A member stated that it was generally 1 understood among numismatists that the f designs had already been decided upon, ! and that orders had, it was understood, been placed for the early supply of such i coins of uniform design. Example of Italy Mr. Allan Sutherland, who had just concluded reading a paper on behalf of an Australian member dealing with the artistic merit, vitality and striking beauty of the designs of modern Italian coins, said that New Zealand might well copy the Italian school of numismatic art in deciding on its coinage designs. He deplored the suggestion that the reverses of all New Zealand coins were to be alike. The New Zealand Numismatic Society, whose members had studied the coinages of the world in all their aspects, should give some lead in the matter, and offer some suggestions to the Government in regard to designs and denominations of the new coins. « All numismatists knew that tradition dictated that the obverse of all colonial coins should bear the King's head, crowned, as distinct from the uncrowned head on the Imperial issues, and while no doubt that practice would be followed in the case of the obverse of all New Zealand coins, it was surely not contemplated that the reverses should bear the coat of arms of the Dominion. Such designs would resemble those appearing on Wellington milk tokens, and would hardly be a credit to the Dominion. A uniform design would lead to confusion, as the sizes and metals of the coins would be the only means of distinguishing values, and moreover, a great opportunity to advertise the Dominion by striking designs symbolic of the life of the country would be lost. Many numismatists had in their collections fine examples of an earlier metallic currency of New Zealand—the bronze penny and halfpenny trader's currency tokens used for general currency up to about 1880. These early coins bore designs illustrative of the life of the Dominion, such a Maori chieftain's head, fern trees and lake scenes, kiwi, etc., and some of these designs might well be copied to some extent in the new coinage. Export Causes Difficulty Mr. Bates said that it seemed to him that the export of silver coin in large quantities had accelerated the difficulties of the smaller traders and producers within the Dominion. If the outflow of silver continued without further supplies to make up the loss, a difficult situation would be created. A somewhat paradoxical position had arisen in that never before were the prices of meat, fruit and vegetables, etc., as low as they were today, and yet, in a larg« measure, the people who wanted that produce were un-' able to get it owing to the fact that even the small amount of money necessary was | not available to them to exchange for the goods. The currency system required immediate revision. It was decided to make representations to the Government, suggesting that competitive designs be called for New Zealand coinage designs, and that the questions of designs and denominations be referred to a competent committee for early report as to the artistic and numismatic aspects of the 'matter. Members stated that they would readily make available for inspection early New Zealand tokens bearing typical New Zealand designs as an indication of what might be 4 on e to typify and perpetuate New Zealand life through one of its most durable and far-reaching advertising mediums—its coinage.