Special Crown Piece May Be Struck By N.Z. To Mark Royal Visit

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1948, Page 4

Special Crown Piece May Be Struck By N.Z. To Mark Royal Visit

(0.C.) Wellington, May 31. It is expected that in view of the Australian authorities’ intention to mint a double florin to commemorate the Royal visit next year, an announcement will be made shortly by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) concerning a suggestion made by the Royal New Zealand Numismatic Society to the Government that a special crown piece be struck to mark the occasion of the Royal visit to the Dominion. The “Chronicle" has been given to understand that the suggestion has been placed before Cabinet for consideration, and it is thought highly probable that the commemorative piece, in a quantity which may be near or even in excess of the 100,000 mark. It is unlikely, however, that the coin will be of silver content, but whether it is minted in silver or alloy, the net return to the Treasury will be substantial —in fact the cost of minting in relation to the total face value of the coins will be fractional. New Zealand has issued extremely few special coins—two only—these were the Waitangi Crown in 1935, and the Centennial Halfcrown, In 1940. Both coins now have a high market value, the former commanding almost any price a seller cares to ask. One thousand Waitangi crowns were struck. There were 108,000 Centennial halfcrowns issued. Each coin served to commemorate great historical events —the .celebrated signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the reaching of the first century in New Zealand's nationhood.

To commemorate the Royal tour of South Africa a special crown piece was minted by the South African Government. At a recent auction, held by a world famous firm in London, a specimen of this crown fetched £7.