BRITISH COINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1938, Page 9

BRITISH COINS

A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION VALUABLE GOLD PIECES A comprehensive collection of British coins, including Maundy money and a special issue of gold pieces, is in the possession of Mr H. Tuson, of New Plymouth, who has just returned from a visit to England. All the coins were minted last year. The Maundy money, which is distributed to old, poor and infirm men and women at Westminster Abbey on the Thursday before Easter each year, consists of silver penny, twopenny, threepenny and fourpenny pieces. Because of their small size and unusual thinness, the penny and twopenny pieces are of particular interest. In design they are similar to the ordinary coinage. Another coin in the collection is the 12-sided mixed-metal threepenny pieces which was introduced into general circulation last year. Most valuable of the coins are four gold pieces in 10s, £l, £2 and £5 denominations. Although gold coins are no longer in general circulation the custom still remains of issuing a limited number of the various traditional values at the commencement of each new sovereign’s reign. As with Maundy money, the gold coins are eagerly sought by collectors.