COPPER COINAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 10

COPPER COINAGE

DESIGNS APPROVED

PENNY AND HALFPENNY

When the Centennial celebrations commence New Zealand will have a complete range of distinctive coinage, designs for a penny and halfpenny having been approved by the Government. Making this announcement over the weekend, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said that, as with the Dominion's first distinctive issue of silver coins, the work was being done by the Royal Mint, London, and it was expected that the initial supply would reach New Zealand in ample time for issue at the Centennial.

Mr. Savage also announced that Cabinet had approved a design for a halfcrown commemorating the Centennial.

The designer is Mr. L. C. Mitchell, Wellington. He was also responsible for the design approved for recent issues of New Zealand stamps.

The halfcrown bears on the obverse the uncrowned effigy of the King, with the inscription "George VI King Emperor." The reverse has the figure of a Maori woman against a background showing the sun overhead with a Maori wharepuni, or hut, and puhara, or look-out stage, on her right contrasted with modern buildings on her left. A scroll below -bears the dates "1840----1940," and above is the inscription "New Zealand Centennial Halfcrown."

Both the penny and the halfpenny have the same obverse as the halfcrown. The reverse of the penny bears a representation of a tui perched on a branch of kowhai with the inscription, "New Zealand One Penny," and the year, while the reverse of the halfpenny has a representation of a tiki, with Maori ornamental scrolls on either side. The inscription is "New Zealand Halfpenny" and the year is recorded below.