Leaderboard

Let me tell you a tale, a tale so full of mystery and wonder that it will make your teeth curl, your hair turn an interesting shade of purple and your dog collect the morning newspaper whilst wearing an evening jacket. Eleven coins; Four world powers; A desperate, fledgling colony Let us begin with the words of Governor Philip King, delivered conversationally to an audience of several in Sydney, November 19th 1800: "19th Nov. The Currency WHEREAS Representations of the Want of small money, experienced here, has Induced His Majesty to take into His Gracious Consideration the Immediate relief from this great Inconvenience to all Classes of His Subjects in this Colony, a Quantity of Copper Coin has been received in His Majesty's Armed Vessel 'Porpoise', and will be circulated, by being paid for Grain and Animal Food supplied His Majesty's Stores. "A Twopence Coin These are therefore to give notice, that a Copper Coin, weighing One English ounce, and stamped with the profile of His Majesty on the one side, and of Britannia on the other, will be Issued as Above, at the rate of Two pence for each Copper; and that the same shall be paid and pass Current in the Colony, and is to Circulate at the Aforesaid Rate of Two pence. "The Legal Tender And that no one may plead Ignorance of the Rate or Legality of this or any other of the Coins circulating in this Colony, of which it does not appear that any regular Proclamation has ever collectively been issued, I have judged it most expedient herewith to publish the following Table of all the specie legally circulating in this Colony, with the Rates Affixed to each, at which they shall be considered, and be a legal tender in all payments or transactions in this Colony. . "Table of specie A Guinea, a Johanna, a Half-Johanna, a Ducat, a Gold Mohur, a Pagoda, a Spanish dollar, a Rupee, a Dutch guilder, an English Shilling, a Copper coin of One Ounce [editor's note: I have no idea how to insert tables or use the Pound symbol on my colonial keyboard, so this list must suffice for the time being] When a sufficient quantity of Copper Coin is received in the Colony, of which notice will be given, no private Notes or Cards will be allowed to Circulate. "Copper coin for small amounts only This Supply of Copper having been sent to relieve the Inconvenience of persons requiring to make small payments, no persons are to Collect the same for the purpose of making large payments, nor shall it be deemed a legal tender to offer the same in payment for any sum exceeding five pounds. "Coin to Be Kept in Colony And it is hereby declared that the Exportation or Importation, except from His Majesty's Treasury, of any sum in Copper exceeding five pounds shall be punished by a Fine of treble the value, and forfeiture of the sum exported or imported...." @DrLarry has recently been sentenced to transportation to the aforesaid penal colony for the period of no less than seven years for encouraging the indictable offence that is this thread. In forthcoming episodic posts we shall hear how this state of affairs came to be, how the author came to track its trail and, due to repeated insistence of many, the colourful language that Mrs King used to describe her convict servant on Thursday last.

Still hunting for Encased Farthings. Thought I would share a couple more that I received recently from a collector in Canada.

Some Spanish dollars became the Holley dollar which had the center punched out and called the dump valued at 1/- 6d and the rim valued at 5/-. The idea being to keep the coin in the new colony as it was now worth less than normal Spanish dollars. A genuine dump or dollar is very much sought after nowadays. Many fakes exist.

Well done and thank you I have not yet had the opportunity to visit our Southern Colonies but I now have a conviction in me to board that ship sailing from blighty along with 200 barrels of apples (pommies) and will expect no less than the expected welcome when I arrive ......I hope you will enjoy my sentence. Guvner

Now got an 1897 O .N E penny (F147) courtesy of Bob @RLC35 I'd estimate at EF. Nice coin and another Freeman currency type box ticked.