Australasian Tokens and Coins
Coins Current in the Early Days of Australia
Many foreign coins as well as British issues were current in Australia during the early years of settlement, as in many other countries about the same period. Much has been written about thein and their fluctuating values, and there would be little gain in a detailed description of them here. A few have been noted, and will be found on Plates 59, 60, and 61, which will give the reader a fair idea of the variety of currency, which must have been a great tax on the patience of the honest trader. The values Auctuated as the metal they contained rose or fell in the world's markets, but the difficulty of retaining any coin in countries having no Mint of their own led to the fixing of artificial prices at times; generally above that for which they were current in their country of origin. Hence it was unprofitable to export, and possibly the local wants were occasionally better met. As an instance of this latter practice we need only refer to a Proclamation made by Governor King in New South Wales on 19th November, 1800, in which he fixes the rates at which certain coins were to pass current in that Colony :
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| An English Guinea | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| A Johanna | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| A Half Johanna | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A Ducat | 0 | 9 | 6 |
| A Gold Mohur | 1 | 17 | 6 |
| A Pagoda | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| A Spanish Dollar | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| A Rupee | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| A Dutch Guelder | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| An English Shilling | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A copper coin of 1 oz. | 0 | 0 | 2 |
It will be noted that with the exception of the last-mentioned copper coin of one ounce, which was the current penny, the value was fixed near that of the intrinsic value of the piece. It is also added by some writers that the English halfpenny was to pass as a penny and the farthing as a halfpenny, and others claim that the twopence was current at 4d., but the Proclamation says nothing about these last three. The following is a list of the coins principally passing at the time, but is by no means complete, almost any coin passing for the value of its metal contents when at all near purity.
- * Joannes V. Portugal. Gold. 36 mm. 444 grs. Pl. 61. Generally known as a Johanna and passing at £4.
- * Joannes V. Portugal. Gold. 31 mm. 220 grs. Pl. 59. A Half Johanna. £2.
- * Carolus IIII. Spain Gold. 35 mm. 418 grs. £3 155. to £4. Pl. 61.
- * Ferdinand VII. Spain. Gold. 418 grs. £3 155. to £4.
- * Maria L. Portugal. Gold. 32 mm. 220 grs. £1 16s. to £2. Pl. 59.
- * Ducat. Gold. 55 grs. 9s. 6d. Pl. 59.
- * Pagoda. Gold. 46 grs. 16 mm. 8s. Pl. 59.
- * Gold Mohur. £1 175. These varied in weight and value, coming from different parts of India.
- * English Guinea. George III. £1 2s. Pl. 61.
- * Half Guinea. IIS.
- * Spanish Dollar. 5s. Pl. 60. . Silver.
- * Haif Dollar. 2s. 6d. Pl. 60.
- * Quarter Dollar. 1s. 3d. Pl. 60.
- * One-eighth Dollar. 9d. Pl. 60.
- Dutch Guelder. 2s. Pl. 60.
- * Sicca Rupee. 25. 6d.
- * Rupee. 2s.
- * English Shilling (Wire money). 1s. Id. Pl. 60.
- * English Sixpence (Wire money). Pl. 60.
- * Twopence. Copper. George III. 4d. Pl. 61.
- * Penny. Copper. George III. 2d. Pl. 61.
- * Halfpenny. Copper. George III. 1d. Pl. 61.
- * Farthing. Copper. George III. ½d. Pl. 61.
