Summary

Proof 1 Shilling, Issued by New Zealand, 1947
Minted by Royal Mint, London

Obverse Description

King's head, bare, facing left; around, GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR; below neck truncation in small letters the artist's initials HP ([Thomas] Humphrey Paget)

Reverse Description

A figure of a Maori warrior in warlike attitude crouching to left carrying a taiahat; above, NEW ZEALAND; below, ONE SHILLING 1947; at left above ground line in small letters the artist's initials KG (Kruger Gray)

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

In 1947 New Zealand moved away from employing silver in circulating coinage, adopting a copper-nickel alloy at the same time as Great Britain.

'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.' http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/currency/money/0094086.html

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