NEW ZEALAND COINAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND COINAGE

QUESTION OF DESIGN

NUMISMATISTS CONCERNED

A meeting of the New Zealand Numismatic. Society was held last evening, and an interesting discussion took plaeo regarding tho proposed designs and denominations of tho New Zealand coinago to bo introduced shortly. Some apprehension waa .expressed at a statement mado by one member that an impression had gone abroad, apparently on good foundation, that the Government had already decided on the designs for the new coins which wero to bear the old coat of arms of the Dominion on one side, and the King's head on the other, und that "the coins were to be hustled out in large quantities as quickly aa possible." Tho president (the Bev. D. C. Bates) stated that the Government was to be congratulated ,on deciding to issue coins of a distinctive New Zealand design, thus placing New Zealand on the numismatic map of the world. A New Zealand coinage had long been discussed by New Zealand numismatists, and it had been advocated by the society ever sineo its inception. The advantages of a special coinage wero woll known. Trafficking in silver coin as a result of the high exchange had forced the situation, and the Government had .taken the only reasonable step to meet the position. If'was to bo 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 understood among numismatists . that the designs had already been decided upon, and that ordera had, it was understood, been placed for the early supply of such 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. As'a student of numismatics, Mr. Sutherland said that 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 tho 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 whilst 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 of all New Zealand coins 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 6"f 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 inv 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 poins bore designs illustrative of the- life of the: Dominion^ such as 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. ' I THE DECIMAL SYSTEM. I - ■ Mr. Sutherland said that a wonderful opportunity, presented itself to^ the Dominion to discard the archaic fractional. uystenv of coinage in favour, of the decimal,system of coinage that was widely adopted throughout the world. Canada, India, Ceylon, South Africa, and other parts of the Empire jiad already adopted a decimal system of coinage, and outside the' British Isles, Australia and New Zealand we're the only two British countries of a.ny size adhering to the fractional system of coinage. Since New Zealand required a coinage that would remain within her shores' a decimal system of coinage, of a distinctive New Zealand design undoubtedly offered tho host solution of the 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 in the Dominion. 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 large measure, the people who wanted that produee were unable 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. ■..'■':.

After' further discussion 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 done to typify and perpetuate Now Zealand life through one of its most durable and far-reaehing advertising mediums —its coinage.