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1 Crown - George V Waitangi
| Issuer | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Year | 1935 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Crown (1/4) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central composition depicting Maori Chief Tamati Waka Nene and British Royal Navy Captain William Hobson facing one another and clasping hands in a formal handshake, symbolising the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. A ornate crown is positioned above the two figures at the top of the field. The inscription NEW ZEALAND and CROWN flank the design, with the date 1935 and the word WAITANGI completing the legend around the periphery, all separated by small crosses. The design was executed by engraver George James Berry and commemorates the 95th anniversary of the Treaty. |
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| Mintage | 1935 - - 660 1935 - Proof - 468 |
| Additional information |
The Waitangi Crown was struck for the centenary of the Treaty of Waitangi, signed February 6, 1840, but its release was handled so poorly that it became a political embarrassment almost immediately. Priced at five shillings retail — face value — it was sold exclusively through the post office and banks, with no provision for general circulation, yet the government had produced only 364,000 pieces. Collectors and speculators cleared stocks within days.
Māori leaders objected that the coin commemorated a treaty many considered already broken. The controversy contributed to New Zealand issuing no further commemorative coinage for decades.