MONEY FOE CHRISTMAS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 3

MONEY FOE CHRISTMAS

DEMAND IN AUSTRALIA

Some three months before Christinas every year the Commonwealth Treasury makes a census, of trie token money in circulation to ensure that the supply of coins shall be adequate to the rush of business at Christmas, and to ascertain how much now money must be issued (states the "Argus")- Within the next few days an estimate will be made of the requirements for this Christmas and orders will be issued to tho Koyal Mint in Melbourne to issue the new coins which may be necessary. It is a pleasant indication of the return of better times that a much busier Christmas than has been experienced for several years is expected; and the supply of small change will be adjusted accordingly.

Records of the Treasury show an interesting diversity between the demands, of the various States for coins of various denominations. Last year new coinage to the value of £66,000 was issued. Although New South Wales has the largest population, its demands were comparatively modest. It ordered new coins to tho value of only i£9ooo, made up entirely of pennies and half-pennies. Victoria was issued with now coins to the value of £29,000, mado up of £8400 in florins; £8200 in shillings, £2600 in sixpences, £2600 in threepenny pieces, and £7100 in pennies and halfpennies. Victoria was the only State to which coins of every denomination wero issued. The people of Queensland took the greater part of their new coin in florins, their value being £10,000. The remaining sum of £5000 was made up of threepenny pieces and coppers. Like Now South Wales, South Australia sought only coppers, tho value of tho currency issued . there being £500j all in half-pennies. Western Australia took £11,600 in coins of every denomination except shillings. For Borne reason which cannot be explained Victoria was the only State ■which issued orders for an additional supply of shillings. Numerically, halfpennies are still the coins for -which tho greatest demand prevails., Nearly 4,000,000 wero issued last year. Tho number of new pennies issued was about 3,000,000. In tho order of demand the number of other coins issued was:—Threepenny pieces, 528,000; florins, 234,000; sixpences, 208,000; and shillings, 184,000.