Malaysia Commemorative Coins 2017 : Malaysian Palm Oil Industry 100th Anniversary

A Brief History of New Zealand Coins

In 1967 New Zealand changed its coinage from the Imperial British standard to the decimal system.  The designs on the coins reflected the wonderful heritage and cultural icons of New Zealand from the last surviving member of an otherwise extinct family of reptiles, the Tuatara, to a representation of a Mäori koruru carved head, which adorns whare or meeting houses.

A number of changes have taken place in the years since decimalisation: the ‘heads’ design featuring the Queen’s portrait was updated in 1986 and again in 1999. The original kiwi 20 cent coin, was replaced with an image of the Pukaki carving in 1990.

When the $1 and $2 notes were taken out of circulation in 1991, they were replaced by the gold-coloured kiwi $1 coin and the $2 coin featuring the kotuku.

In 2006 the 'silver' coins all had a makeover. The ten, twenty and fifty cent coins all become smaller and lighter. The new ten cent coin was also changed to a copper coloured.  The five cent coin was removed from circulation altogether.

Previously made with solid cupro-nickel, the new plated steel coins are not only more cost effective, but also lighter. 

China Trade Dollar 1914-1921 袁头币

钱面：袁仕凯光头侧面像，上环“中华民国三年造”。

钱背：中间汉字“壹元” 周围环嘉禾纹饰。

Technical Specifications

Denomination: 壹圆 1 dollar

Issued by :中華民國 Rebublic of China

Issued Year : 民国三年至十年  1914-1921

Diameter : 39 mm

Weight : 26.4 grams

Coin Shape : Round

Composition : .890 Silver
Engraver : Luigi Giorgi

1911年，辛亥革命成功，清朝覆之。1912年1月，中华民国临时政府在南京成立，孙中山先生就任临时大总统。民国政府将原江南造币厂改为财政部管理，开始铸行 有孙中山先生侧面肖像，面值分为壹圆、贰角、壹角之“中华民国开国纪念币”。民国初年， 中国市场银元流通状况更趋混乱，海外各国银币和清朝龙洋并行，种类繁多，成色不一，市价时高时低，民众经济活动涤受其害。

1914年（民国三年）2月，民国政府着手改革币制，公布“国币条例”及其“实施细侧”。以求整顿并统一银币铸行。规定以壹元银圆为本位币，重七钱二分，成色银九铜一（后改为89%），分壹圆、半圆、贰角、壹角四等币值。十二月，财政部天津造币总厂首铸新版银币，其正面袁世凯侧面头像及发行年号，背面 嘉禾纹饰与币值，俗称“袁头币”。

后南京、广东 、武昌 、甘肃造币分厂陆续开铸，币值有一元 、半元 、二角 、一角等面值。有签字 、无签字版，边齿为185 、170道直线。

纪年有三年 、八年 、九年 、十年四种，细微差异颇多，成色参差不齐。“年”字后没有“造”字，其他年版都在“年”字后面有“造”字。三年版“民”字中有一“点”，而其他年版民字无“点”。

United States Trade Dollar 1873-1885

Descriptions

Obverse : Liberty seated on a pedestal facing the sea to the left holding olive branches surrounded by 13 stars.

Lettering: IN GOD WE TRUST │ LIBERTY

Reverse : An eagle holding branches with berries on them and arrows.

Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA │E PLURIBUS UNUM │420 GRAINS  .900 FINE │TRADE DOLLAR

Technical Specifications

Denomination: 1 dollar

Issued by : Unites States of America

Year : 1873-1885

Diameter : 38.1 mm

Weight : 27.22 grams

Coin Shape : Round

Composition : .900 Silver

Coin Edge : Reeded

Engraver : William Barber

      x                                                          x                                                               x

The United States trade dollar was a dollar coin minted by the United States Mint to compete with other large silver trade coins that were already popular in East Asia. The idea first came about in the 1860s, when the price of silver began to decline due to increased mining efforts in the western United States. A bill providing in part for the issuance of the trade dollar was eventually put before Congress, where it was approved and later signed into law as the Coinage Act of 1873. The act made trade dollars legal tender up to five dollars. A number of designs were considered for the trade dollar, and an obverse and reverse created by William Barber were selected.

The coins were first struck in 1873, and most of the production was sent to China. Eventually, bullion producers began converting large amounts of silver into trade dollars, causing the coins to make their way into American commercial channels. This caused frustration among those to whom they were given in payment, as the coins were largely maligned and traded for less than one dollar each. In response to their wide distribution in American commerce, the coins were officially demonetized in 1876, but continued to circulate. Production of business strikes ended in 1878, though the mintage of proof coins officially continued until 1883. The trade dollar was re-monetized when the Coinage Act of 1965 was signed into law.

     x                                                          x                                                               x

Year	Mintage
1873	√
1784	√
1875	√
1876	√
1877	√
1878	√
1879	proof, rare
1880	proof, rare
1881	proof, rare
1882	proof, rare
1883	proof, rare
1884	proof, rare
1885	proof, rare

New Zealand Coins : Decimal System

Introduction of Decimal Currency

In 1959, a committee was set up to study and report on decimal coinage. This committee was in favour of such an adoption, and after further study, it was announced in 1963 that New Zealand would change to a decimal coinage system.

In 1964, the Decimal Currency Act, 1964 prescribed the designs, diameters, and standard weights of the decimal coins, which first appeared in circulation on 10th July 1967. These coins were all designed by Reginald George James Berry (known as James) of Wellington. His initials (JB) appear on the reverse of all of our then bronze and cupro-nickel coins.

The word Shilling was included on the 10 cent coin to assist with the transition to decimal currency, it featured on minting of the 10c coin for the years 1967, 1968 and 1969 and was dropped in 1970. The 1968 10 cent coin minting were for collectors sets only.

The coins introduced :           

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New Denomination     Old Denomination      Coin Specification

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50 cents                     5 shillings            Alloy: Cupro-nickel

                                 (one Crown)         Diameter: 31.75mm

                                                            Weight: 13.61gm

Design: The barque Endeavour, commanded by Captain Cook, sailing south, with Mt. Taranaki (Egmont) in the distance under the figure "50"

20 cents                     2 shillings            Alloy: Cupro-nickel

   (one Florin)          Diameter: 28.58mm

                              Weight: 11.31gm

Design: Kiwi facing right and fern bush with figure "20"

10 cents                      1 shilling            Alloy: Cupro-nickel

    (one Bob)            Diameter: 23.62mm

                                                            Weight: 5.66gm

Design: A Maori carved head or koruru under the figure "10" with Maori rafter patterns

5 cents                         6 pence             Alloy: Cupro-nickel

                                                            Diameter: 19.43mm

                                                            Weight: 2.83gm

Design: A tuatara curled on a coastal rock on which is superimposed the figure "5". A gull flies in the background

2 cents                         3 pence             Metal: Bronze

                                                            Diameter: 21.08mm

                                                            Weight: 4.14gm

Design: Two kowhai flowers and leaves surrounding the figure "2"

1 cent                          1 penny             Metal: Bronze

                                                            Diameter: 17.53mm

Weight: 2.07gm

Design: A stylised fern leaf enclosing the figure "1"

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On the 31st March 1989, the issue of 1 and 2 cent pieces ceased. Both coins were demonetised on the 30th April 1990.

In December 1990, a new 20 cent piece was introduced to replace the old 20 cent piece, as the Kiwi design on the old 20 cent piece was transferred to the new $1 coin. Both designs of the 20 cent coin are legal tender along with the earlier two shilling piece or florin.

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20 cents                  Alloy: Cupro-nickel

                              Diameter: 28.58mm

                              Weight: 11.31gm

Design: A representation of a well-known Maori "pukaki" carving.

__________________________________________________________

On the 11th February 1991, new $1 and $2 coins were introduced to replace the $1 and $2 notes. These two coins and above 20 cent coin were all designed by Robert Maurice Conly, M.B.E. of Wellington.

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$1                           Alloy: Aluminium-bronze

                               Diameter: 23.0mm

                               Weight: 8.0gm

                               Design: The kiwi, bringing to reality the colloquial 

                               term ‘Kiwi Dollar'.

$2                           Alloy: Aluminium-bronze

                               Diameter: 26.5mm

                               Weight: 10.0gm

 Design: The kotuku (white heron), flying right. The kotuku is one of  New Zealand's rarest birds and is held in particularly high regard in  Maori mythology.

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On the 31st July 2006, the Reserve Bank introduced new smaller and lighter 10, 20 and 50 cent coins made of plated steel.  The Bank started withdrawing the corresponding old silver-coloured cupronickel coins at the same time.  The 5 cent coin was withdrawn and not replaced.  The old coin were demonetised, ie declared no longer legal tender, with effect from 1 November 2006.

New Zealand Coins : Fractional System

The early years

In early 1840, Captain William Hobson, RN, the first Governor of New Zealand, extended British laws to New Zealand. This meant that certain sections of the Imperial Coinage Act, 1816 (UK) became relevant to the new colony. This allowed for the standard gold, silver and bronze British coins to circulate freely in New Zealand alongside the existing variety of foreign coins. British coins were made legal tender in terms of the above act by the passing of the English Laws Act in 1858.

In the 1840s and 1850s there was an extreme shortage of coins, especially copper coins. Traders tried the issue of low value paper notes to remedy this situation but this was soon abandoned. Instead, as this shortage intensified throughout the 1850s, businesses in Auckland and Dunedin decided to issue their first copper tokens in 1857. In all, 48 traders (mostly retailers) issued their own penny and half-penny tokens. This practice survived until 1881 with their use gradually declining in the 1880s.

In 1897, New Zealand's currency became subject to certain provisions stated in the Imperial Coinage Act, 1870 (UK). This meant that only British coin became the official legal tender coin of the colony. At that time, it was already one of the two ‘common' currencies, along with Australian minted gold sovereign and half sovereign coins.

In 1914, the gradual withdrawal of gold coin from circulation took place.

Silver coin was debased from .925 fine (Sterling Silver) to .500 fine in 1920.

New Zealand’s own currency

By 1933, it was obvious that something had to be done about the coin smuggling and the shortage of lower denomination coins in New Zealand. It was decided that New Zealand should start issuing currency from a single bank. The New Zealand Numismatic Society suggested that New Zealand adopt a decimal system of coinage.

However a distinctive New Zealand coinage was introduced in 1933 based on a fractional system (the same as sterling). These new coins used the same weights, sizes and denominations as the British coins.

Bronze coins (penny and halfpenny) of British standard were not approved until 22nd December 1939. These were issued in 1940, at the time of the Centennial of New Zealand.

The Coinage Act, 1933 governed the currency, coinage and legal tender in New Zealand, and meant that British coin ceased to be legal tender as at 1st February 1935. New Zealand then became the last and most remote of the self-governing dominions of the British Commonwealth to introduce its own coinage.

The original designs

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Half-Crown   Ensigns armorial of the Dominion on their shield (quarterings depicting the Southern Cross, a wheat sheaf, a lamb suspended by a ribbon and mining hammers crossed divided by three ships) surmounted by the Royal Crown and surrounded by ornamentation inspired by Maori carvings

Florin            A kiwi (bird) facing left

Shilling          A figure of a Maori warrior in warlike attitude carrying a 

                    taiaha

Sixpence        A huia (bird) perched on a branch

Threepence   Two carved patu (Maori weapons) crossed with lanyards or throngs attached,  with "3d" between their blades

Penny           A tui (bird) perched in a setting of yellow kowhai blossoms

Halfpenny     A Maori Hei-tiki (Maori charm) with Maori ornamental scrolls 

                   on each side

____________________________________________________________

In 1947 the issue of Cupro-Nickel coins replaced .500 fine silver coins. This proclamation was made under Section eight of the Coinage Act, 1933 and signed on 25th August 1947. Both metal types of coins were still considered to be legal tender. This change was due to the rising costs of mining and the price of silver.

Malaysia Commemorative Coins 2016 : FELCRA 50th Anniversary

Obverse

Images of palm oil and rubber trees, amidst the green landscape which represent the core plantation business of FELCRA are depicted in the centre of the coin, with roads which lead to the skyline of Kuala Lumpur in the background. The words “SAMBUTAN JUBLI EMAS FELCRA” appear on the upper circumference of the coin while the years 1966-2016 are inscribed on the lower circumference.

Reverse

The words “BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA” as the issuing authority of the commemorative coin is featured on the upper circumference of the coin, while the face value of the coin is inscribed on the lower circumference. In between, the official anniversary logo of FELCRA is featured on the coin.