SECRETS OF MINT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22961, 12 February 1938, Page 9

SECRETS OF MINT

BEITISH COINAGE EFFECT OF ABDICATION NEW ZEALAND ISSUES - » [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Jan. 21 Behind-the-scenjs events at the Royal Mint at the time of the abdication of King Edward VIII. are revealed for the first time, in the report for 1935 antL 1936 of the Deputy-Master and Comptroller, Sir Robert Johnson. He shows that more than 200 dies for coins, medals and seals were rendered useless as soon as the news of the abdication became known. :"V ; -J.

The King anl Queen gave hurried sittings for new coinage portraits and Coronation medals, which were issued just in time for the Coronation. Since the first milled coin of Charles 11. it has been the practice with each reign to reverse the direction of. the monarch's head on gold and silver coinage. The head of King George V. faced to the left. The cointige effigy of King Edward "VTH. was, at his- personal wish, prepared also facing lefi. Dominions' Coinage ••

The tradition was saved by the fact that no coinage bearing the bust of Edward VIII. has been issued, and the head of King George VI. faces the same way as the head of King George V. —the last monarch but One.

The report refers to the fact that the new coins of New Zealand and other Dominions bear an" uncrowned effigy of the King. Sir Robert explains tli at on the coinage of King George V. this appeared only on home coinage. Now, at the expressed desire of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the use of the uifcrowned effigy had been extended to the Dominions, but it had been thought desirable to retain the crowned head for British India and the colonies.- " Zoological " Designs

Sir Robert also refers to the influence of New Zealand coinage when designs for the reverse side of the new English coins were being considered. "I was made aware that some desire existed for a complete departure, from - the heraldic tradition which has been associated 1 for several centuries with • our principal coins," he'sayp; held the view. that heraldry .was not 'understanded of the people,' and that persons unversed in the science would prefer simple pictorial devices upon tho coins which they used day bv day. "No doubt these ideas have be<n encouraged by the issue of what . I may call, I hope without offence, the:' Zoological' coinages, of which the ' Irish .* Free State coins are so charming an example, and in which the new issues for New Zealand and' Southern Kho» desia may perhaps be included. New Threepenny Pieces

"There is much to be said for this 'modern' view, but, on the other hand, the traditional school held firmly that heraldry not only affords the best basis for design, but that for one of the few remaining monarchies to abandon it would be little short of disastrous." Actually when designs were' called for, the Advisory Committee was not satisfied that the "modern'' suggestions sufficiently compensated for breaking the old tradition. An exception was a charming design depicting a : wren, wbich appears on the ' new I farthings. r * j The report points out that,' although there" are still vejry few of the neje 1.2sided threepenny pieces in circulation, over 30,000,000 have been issued. Apparently they are being nursed as curiosities in waistcoat pockets and moneyboxes, and they will not come into full usb until the novelty has worn off.