CENTENNIAL COINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1939, Page 5

CENTENNIAL COINS

ITEMS OF COMPLETE SERIES APPROVED HALF-CROWNS AND COPPERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Designs for a Centennial half-crown and also for a bronze penny and halfpenny to complete the distinctive New Zealand series of coins, have been approved by the Government, according to a statement made at the weekend 'by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage. He 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.

The designer is Mr L. C. Mitchell, Wellington. He was also responsible for the design approved for recent issues of New Zealand stamps. The half-rown 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 belows bears the dates “18401940,” and above is the inscription "New Zealand centennial half-crown.” 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.