OLD COINS AND THEIR VALUE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 499, 22 July 1932, Page 5

OLD COINS AND THEIR VALUE

INTERESTING CHRISTCHURCH SPECIMENS There are a very great many lid silver Victorian coins in Christchurch, but there are none in the Museum and collectors do not pay much attention to them in bocks, states the Star. One authority says that the his. torical and artistic value, if not in. terest, of British coinage sensibly declines after the death of Anne in 1714, and as a matter of fact a Queen Anne farthing of 1714 has been valued at not more than 12s. The authorities, moreover, dp not (ix arbitrary values in their bocks for any old coins, and say that only the record of auction and other sales from time to time can he a guide to values, which fluctuate as the values cf old editions of books fluctuate. Moreover, there are two kinds of valuers in this matter, those who buy and those who sell. A lady who exhibited some very interesting coins, including _an American half-dime and a lid piece of 1843, had also a Queen Elizabeth silver coin exactly an inch in diameter, which a pawnbroker in Lon. don had informed her was worth just Is 9d. She had called on the pawn, broker, of course, merely for the sake of obtaining a valuation of a coin, that had a sentimental interest for her, because it was dug up by her father, and she laughingly remarked that if she had told the pawnbroker that she wanted anothei like it to match a pair for a brooch he would probably have quoted hei an entirely different figure, A Gold Ducat

One of the most interesting coins is a gold piece, seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, dated 1052, which is evidently a gold ducat, about the time of Johan von Zapoly, titular king of Hungary, for it bears a very close resemblance to an illustration of a coin ci 1531. Rut the author, W Carew Hazlitt, values this ducat at 17s Gd. and the owner would pro]). ,ibly get. as much for it as old gold. Unusual and Rare Coins A gold one-third of a guinea piece, minted in the reign of George IV. and bearing the date ISI7, is an in. teresting coin in the pcssessijon ol Mr P. T. Kiddey. of St. Albans. The roin shows (lie king’s head with the powdered wig which went out ot fashion in his ! reign. Mr. Kidder has a nnuthei’’ of other unusual and rare coins liV his possession. The tiniest of all is a silver me del farth. mg, hearing the date 1848, and showing a very girlish Queen. A ictoria This coin was never put into circulation and is clearly marked as a

model farthing. Silver coins of Hit reign of George IV. which are also in Mr Kiddoy’s collection arc a penny, dated 1 572. penny halfpenny piece (1534). twopenny piece (1827) and a threepenny piece (1822). He also has a fonrponny piece minted in Queen Victoria’s reign and dated 1522, and a shilling, dated 1787. hear. • ing a representation of the head of George 111. This coin is very similar on the reverse side to a modern florin. A silver penny, dated 1800, minted in the reign of George 111., is cue of the coins in an interesting collection in Ihe possession of a St. Albans lady. She also has a silver penny halfpenny and a twopenny piece ol ilie reign of George TV. and two fenrirnny pieces, dated 1810 and 1812. ( ] Hip silver penny halfpenny is said c j v .o be a very rare coin. at

There was no microphone near Mr. Bri’ce when he rose to address the Conference, and he waited a full minute with perfect, composure until the microphone was brought. He spoke for twelve minutes and received an ovation on concluding. Messrs. Bruce and Coates attracted general interest by their fine bearing and immaculate attire. Mr. O’Kelly spoke with a broad accent for five minutes and was well received. The King’s Message to the Conference was as follows: “My thoughts and prayers are with the gathered to explore tire means of promoting prosperity of this great Empire. The Conference opens a new page of history on which it will within a few weeks write the record of a determined effort to solve the difficutlies weighing so heavily upon us and upon the whple world. ■/ “It is my hope that the Conference results will worthily reflect frankness and sincerity and a spirit of helpfulness with which I am confiderfi your deliberations will be conducted. “The Empire is based on the principle of co-operation. “It is your purpose to give the fullest possible effect to that principle in the economic sphere, thus setting in motion the beneficial forces within the Empire which may v/ell extend their impulse throughout the world. “I pray that you shall be given a clear insight and the strength to accomplish the task.'’ Lord Bessborough, addressing the delegates, said: “You meet to-day as the chosen trustees of the Empire, knowing that your deliberations will materially affect the welfare of the millions. The recent far-reaching events have left unchanged the spirit uniting the Empire and the common ideals, which brought you to Ottawa.” Lord Bessborough then departed and Mr. Bennett, Prime Minister of Canada, took the chair amid applause, lie said:— “We have gathered to determine a plan whereby our great Empire may continue its leadership among the nations. The Conference is unique, firstly for the fuller representation of the Empire, and secondly because we have never faced a greater need for unselfish and concerted action, and thirdly because the prospects of achievement have never been more certain. The machinery of the world’s commerce is out of gear. “International finance has broken down and recovery is beyond any single nation’s strength. “We have a common purpose and a supreme desire to achieve it.”

MUST CONTRIBUTE TO COMMON STOCK MR. BALDWIN’S ADDRESS Received To-day, 10.50 a.m. OTTAWA, Thursday.—Mr. Baldwin, addressing the Conference, said that we should approach the problems with a view to seeing how much each can contribute to the common stock without detriment to our own national interests. “Increased purchasing power in any Dominion,” he said, “will show itself in increased Imperial trade. The prosperity of each will increase the prosperity of all.” Mr. Bruce said: “This is an allBritish Conference. “Benefits* will not he confined to Britishers. The eyes of the world are upon us in the hope and expectation that success here will serve as an inspiration for action on an international basis, which is essential if full prosperity is to be recaptured. “Failure is unthinkable.”

AN ORGY OF CRIME CHRISTCHURCH., Thursday. 'n orgy of crime, involving (he l theft lof goods valued at £2OO. four cases of conversion of motor cars, (wo of breaking, entering and theft and one of receiving stolen goods, was revealed in the Magistrate’s Court, when Thomas Eric Kidd, aged 2.1, a coach trimmer, pleaded guilty to IS charges. He was c« mmitled for sentence on the burglary charges and the remaining cases were adjourned. The burglary cases included (hat at to Pioneer Sports Club, Cbristircb, and theft of jewellery valued £JOO at Kaugiora.