BY-GONE CURRENCIES

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1933, Page 6

BY-GONE CURRENCIES

COINS FROM ANTIQUITY. ADDRESS BY ARCHDEACON GAVIN. An interesting address on old coins and the science of numismatics, accompanied by a display of specimens, was given by Archdeacon G. H. Gavin, New Plymouth, at the Stratford exhibition of antiquities yesterday. Numismatics, explained the archdeacon, was the name given to the science of coins, which was an important science nowadays and was indeed the chief handmaid to history. The beginnings of coinage were in the East, where as far back as 1091 B.C. coms were in circulation in China. In the West, continued the speaker, coins first began to be used in Asia Minor round about 700 8.C., the Greeks and establishing a coinage. The standard which their work attained had not since then been excelled, and their coins were of great beauty. Even as Greek coinage was the greatest and best the world has known, so did that coinage reach the peak of its flawlessness at Syracuse in 400 B.C. “The coins were struck by hand,” added the archdeacon, “and as only one blow was possible the standard of perfection attained i was remarkable.”

The speaker mentioned the coinage of the Jews, when that race was an independent nation, and showed coins of the period 135-106 8.C., under Herod Agrippa and under Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in 30-31 A.D.

Dealing with Roman coinage the archdeacon showed coins of Pompey the Great (106-48 8.C.) and Julius Caesar, which coin could be dated at 44 B.C. The coin bore an abbreviation announcing Caesar’s appointment as perpetual dictator; as that was done in 44 B.C. and he was assassinated in the same year the date was thus definitely fixed. The degeneration of the Roman Empire could be traced by the degeneration in the standard of the coinage, which became shoddy. The speaker rapidly traced mediaeval coinage development, referring to the bawbee of the period of Mary, Queen of Scots, which term was not a colloquialism but a definite name of a Scots coin. He gave a description of the procedure in London on Maundy Thursday, when special Maundy pence were struck and distributed by the King. Archdeacon Gavin was thanked by the Rev. J. McGregor.

DRAW FOR LADIES’ GOLF.

MEDAL MATCH AT STRATFORD.

The draw for the L.G.U. medal match to be played to-morrow by ladies of the Stratford Golf Club is:— ,

Seniors: Mrs. Fryday plays Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Mark plays Miss J. Sangster, Mrs. Green plays Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Farquharson plays Mrs. Boon, Mrs. C. Williams plays Mrs. Seyb, Mrs. Knewstubb plays Miss North, Miss Whittle plays Mrs. Pope. Juniors: Miss Malone plays Miss Edna Anderson, Mrs. Bowler plays Miss M. Lyons, Mrs. R. Curtis plays Mrs. Newell, Mrs. Urwin plays Miss Penn, Mrs. Bishop plays Mrs. W. Williams, Mrs. Power plays Mrs. Graham, Miss Cook plays Miss Henry, Mrs. Bellringer plays Miss Walker, Miss Porrittt plays Mrs. Robson, Mrs. Neal plays Miss J. Coleman, Mrs. W. Boon plays Mrs. Rutherfurd, Miss Elsie Anderson plays Miss M. Sangster.

TE KIRI NEWS. PERSONAL NOTES. Miss M. Julian, Waitara, is staying with her sister, Mrs. R. F. Tindle. Miss Joyce Maindonald, Opunake, is staying with Mrs. Sayed. A friendly basketball match was played at Te Kiri between Auroa and Te Kiri. The visiting team was defeated by 11 to 4. Mr. and Mrs. Clements have returned home after their hoiliday. The fifth series of euchre parties to augment the church funds was held on Tuesday night. There was a fair attendance. The prize-winners were. Mrs. Kruse and Mr. D. Coxhead. The ladies’ prize was given by Mrs. Rumball, and the men’s by Mr. Wemyss. Consolation prizes were won by Mr. W. Lockley and Mrs. P. Willings. Music was supplied by Mr. Hooker, extras being contributed by Mr. W. Coxhead. TUTUTAW A TOPICS. YOUNG PEOPLE WELCOMED. The younger set and friends, with appropriate music, recently gathered to welcome home Mr. A. Holley and his bride. They adjourned to the hall, where a pleasant time was spent with dancing, musical items, etc. The fifth of tlie series of euchre parties conducted by the social committee was held on Friday. Mr. H. Rogers won the men’s prize, Misses Hill and M. Jacobsen tying for the ladies’. In the cut Miss Jacobsen was the winner. . Misses M. and V. Jacobsen have been visiting Eltham. Mrs. J. Wallace has returned from Whangamomona. Mrs. Peter Dons has left for her home at Ohura. . Mrs. i Brown, Douglas, made a brief stay with Mrs. Jacobsen. Mr. and Mrs. Holley are staying with Mr. Holley senr. Miss Muriel Brooking has arrived home after a visit to Hawera. The local footballers held a dance recently, an exceptionally large crowd attending. , Music was supplied by Graham’s 1933 Dance Band. WRESTLING MATCH TO-NIGHT. SPECIALLY GOOD BOUT PROMISED. There was a flurry among members of the Stratford Aero Club yesterday when a telegram was received by the secretary of the Stratford Wrestling Association asking for advice as to a suitable landing ground for the plane by which George Walker will travel to Stratford to-day to wrestle “Whiskers” Blake in the town hall to-night. The secretary ! put the matter in the hands of the aero club, members of which decided the best site was that on Miss Rawles’ property, Opunake Road, where the plane carrying Miss Boyd landed a few months ago. The pilot who brought Miss Boyd from Auckland will probably pilot Walker’s plane. The match to-night promises to reach the front rank of wrestling contests and public interest in it is evidenced by the large number of bookings. Excellent amateur bouts have been arranged as ! preliminaries. Reserves may be had at JRex Watson’s-