Fiji’S New Coins

Sir. M. Hedstrom Arrives With Full Set

Interesting details of the new Fiji coinage, which was introduced on January 1 in that colony, were given to the news papers by Sir Maynard Hedstrom, of Fiji, who arrived in Australia in February, after a year spent mostly in Europe. A complete set of the new coins were pre sented to His Majesty the King. An other special set was given to Sir May nard, who attended to some of the work of the new issue, while in London.

Fiji’s Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher, approved of the design, which was then carried out by Mr. R, Metcalf at the Royal Mint, London, and the coins shipped to Suva, late in 1933. This will put an end to the smuggling of British silver out of Fiji which, owing to the ad vantages given by the present exchange rates, had attained embarrassing propor tions.

An attempt has been made, said Sir Maynard, to provide for peculiar local conditions. The Fiji natives usually carry coins in their mouths. For this reason they did not like the English cop per coins—they called the penny ‘‘loa loa,” or black penny. So, to encourage the natives to carry the coins in another way, and to help the circulation of small money among the Fijians and the Indians—which should help to reduce the cost of living— the new penny and halfpenny are of light nickel, with holes through them, so that they may be carried on strings, as in India and Africa.