Coinage of the Territory of New Guinea

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INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW GUINEAN POUND

The New Guinean pound was the currency of the Australian Territory of New Guinea between 1915 and 1966. It replaced the New Guinean mark after Australia occupied German New Guinea at the end of World War I.

The New Guinean pound was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. It was equal to the Australian pound. The Australian currency circulated alongside coins issued specifically for New Guinea between 1929 and 1945. Between 1942 and 1945, the Oceania pound circulated, issued by the Japanese occupiers. New Guinea coins ceased to be produced in 1945.

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REJECTION OF THE COINS MINTED IN 1929

In 1929 the Melbourne Mint (the Australian branch of the Royal Mint, London) produced copper-nickel 25 000 half pennies and 63 000 pennies for the Territory of New Guinea. Some trial versions of the two coins were also minted in nickel.

Australian coins and banknotes were already in use in New Guinea after World War 1. The two new coins were refused by the administrator of New Guinea at Rabaul when they arrived, as the size almost corresponded with the size of the silver 6 pence and 1 shilling coins. The coins therefore never entered circulation. Four hundred each of the pennies and halfpennies were issued to officials and other important people, and some to collectors, and the rest were melted.

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New Guinea half penny of 1929.

The 1929 half penny was made of copper-nickel. It weighed 4 g and had a diameter of 19 mm. Both coins of 1929 had a central hole so that the people of New Guinea could carry them on strings around their neck.

The obverse and reverse designs of the coins of 1929 were created by George Kruger-Gray of the Royal Mint, UK.

The obverse design depicted the Imperial Crown above the hole; two royal sceptres crossed below the hole; a necklet of dogs' teeth entwining the sceptres; and in the margin the inscription GEORGIUS V. D.G. REX ET IND. IMP.

The reverse design depicted four oblong representations of a native carving extending from the hole, in the form of a Greek cross interspersed by four narrow pointed representations of a native carving, and in the margin two inscriptions TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA and HALF PENNY, together with the year of the coin in figures.

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New Guinea penny of 1929.

The 1929 penny was made of copper-nickel. It weighed 5 g and had a diameter of 24.5 mm.

The obverse design was similar to that of the half penny, except that here the sceptres were shown vertically, with one laid across the other.

The design initials of K G appear at the bottom of the obverse and the reverse designs, just as on the half penny.

Curiously the obverse and reverse designs would later be used, with minor amendments, for the shilling (1935).

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THE COINAGE OF 1935

The coins of 1929 were considered a failed experiment.

No more coins were issued for the Territory of New Guinea until 1935.


Those coins were the three pence, the six pence and the shilling.

The designs were once more by George Kruger-Gray.

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The three pence coin of 1935.

The three pence was made of copper-nickel. It weighed 1.3 g  and had a diameter of 16.34 mm.

The obverse design featured an Imperial Crown above the hole, the Imperial Monogram G.R.I (Georgius Rex Imperator - George, King and Emperor), below the hole, and the year of the coin across the coin — two figures on either side of the hole.

The reverse design featured, symmetrically surrounding the hole, a square surmounting a representation of the stone head of a native war club with four points, of which one point projected symmetrically from each side of the square. Curiously, the year was shown again on the obverse.

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Obverse of the six pence coin of 1935.

The six pence was also made of copper-nickel.

It weighed 2.7 g  and had a diameter of 19.4 mm.

The obverse design was the same as on the three pence coin.

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Reverse of the six pence coin of 1935.

The reverse design of the six pence.

It depicted the stone head of a native war club in the form of an eight-pointed star.

Here too the year appeared on both sides of the coin.

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The shilling coin of 1935.

The shilling was minted in silver. It essentially reprised the obverse and reverse designs of the unissued 1929 penny.

The obverse design additionally featured the Commonwealth star of Australia.

The reverse side design featured representations of native ornamental carvings.

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DEATH OF KING GEORGE V



King George V died on 20 January 1936. In New Guinea, only the shilling was issued in his name that year.

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THE COINS OF KING EDWARD VIII

The son of George V, Edward, now ascended the throne. 1936 was the year of the three kings in the United Kingdom, because King Edward VIII abdicated on 11 December 1936.

Edward abdicated in order to be free to marry Wallis Simpson, an American woman who had already been twice divorced.

Because of Edward's short reign, no coins were issued anywhere in the United Kingdom or in the British Empire and Commonwealth that bore his portrait. Some UK trial coins were produced at the Royal Mint that bore Edward's portrait, but these were never officially adopted.

However, during his brief reign Edward VIII attempted to modernise the coinage of the United Kingdom, with some success, because King George VI, who succeeded him, adopted some of the new designs that Edward had championed. Edward VIII also stated that he would allow the Dominions to use his uncrowned effigy on their coins. However, no such coins were issued, but King George VI then adopted that policy with respect to the coins of his own reign.

Under Edward VIII, however, low denomination coins were issued that bore his name but not his portrait. One of these was the New Guinea penny.

To read more about Edward VIII and his numismatic reforms, see: King Edward VIII: His Place in Numismatics.

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Obverse of the 1936 penny.

The obverse of the penny of 1936 depicted:

- an Imperial Crown above the hole;

- the Imperial Monogram E.R.I (Latin for Edward, King and Emperor) below the hole;

- and flanking the hole, representations of ornamental carvings on native war canoes.


The design was once more the work of Edward Kruger-Gray.

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Reverse of the 1936 penny.

The reverse design of the 1936 penny featured representations of native ornamental carving.

Once again, this was the work of English artist and sculptor George Kruger-Gray on behalf of the Royal Mint, London.

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THE COINS OF 1936

The penny and the shilling were the only coins issued for 1936 in the Territory of New Guinea.

Only a shilling was issued in the name of King George V, but the same type had already been issued for him in 1935.


Meanwhile, only the penny was issued in the name of King Edward VIII, who abdicated in December 1936.

His penny was a therefore one-year type only and the only New Guinea coin of his reign.

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Obverse design of a 1938 penny.

The first New Guinea coins in the name of George VI were issued in 1938.

The obverse of the penny featured his royal monogram.

'GRI' stands for 'Georgius Rex Imperator' - Latin for 'George, King and Emperor'.

The reverse design of the penny remained unchanged.