History of Chatham Islands numismatics
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In 1999 a private organisation, the Chatham Islands Note Corporation, issued
banknote A banknote—also called a bill (North American English), paper money, or simply a note—is a type of negotiable promissory note, made by a bank or other licensed authority, payable to the bearer on demand. Banknotes were originally issued ...
s to celebrate the
Chatham Islands The Chatham Islands ( ) (Moriori: ''Rēkohu'', 'Misty Sun'; mi, Wharekauri) are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about east of New Zealand's South Island. They are administered as part of New Zealand. The archipelago consists of about te ...
being the first human-inhabited land to enter the third millennium. Banknotes such as these cannot be declared
legal tender Legal tender is a form of money that courts of law are required to recognize as satisfactory payment for any monetary debt. Each jurisdiction determines what is legal tender, but essentially it is anything which when offered ("tendered") in ...
, and there is no obligation for anyone to accept the notes issued by the Chatham Island Note Corporation in any transaction. These notes were reported to have been accepted by merchants on the Chatham Islands, some of whom served as directors of the issuer. The Chatham Islands Note Corporation was initially based in
Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon Rive ...
. The agent for providing the notes to the numismatic trade was Leon Morel, Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand of
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...
. The corporation later shifted their base of operations to Waitangi. The face value of the notes was pegged at the same rate as the
New Zealand dollar The New Zealand dollar ( mi, tāra o Aotearoa; sign: $, NZ$; code: NZD) is the official currency and legal tender of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, the Ross Dependency, Tokelau, and a British territory, the Pitcairn Islands. Within Ne ...
. They are unusual in that the first series included $3 and $15 dollar notes, while the second series includes an $8 note.


Not legal tender

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand clarified that these notes are not legal tender. The Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Murray Sherwin mentioned that "Whilst these Chatham Island dollars are a bit of fun,... if people want to use them to undertake transactions, that's fine too."


The series

Series I notes consist of $2, $3, $10 and $15 denominations, and exhibit a very strong influence from American currency designs. There were printed in late 1999, still in time for their release on January 1, 2000. They were printed on polymer
Tyvek Tyvek () is a brand of synthetic flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. The name "Tyvek" is a registered trademark of the American multinational chemical company DuPont, which discovered and commercialized Tyvek in the late 1950s and early ...
paper with the artwork by Timely Marketing & Promotions Limited, Christchurch and
Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...
, New Zealand. Tyvek is a
plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...
-type material, and the notes are dual-denominated—in cents as well as in
dollar Dollar is the name of more than 20 currencies. They include the Australian dollar, Brunei dollar, Canadian dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Jamaican dollar, Liberian dollar, Namibian dollar, New Taiwan dollar, New Zealand dollar, Singapore dollar, ...
s. The same-numbered sets which came out in cardboard folders, also bear a completely different
hologram Holography is a technique that enables a wavefront to be recorded and later re-constructed. Holography is best known as a method of generating real three-dimensional images, but it also has a wide range of other applications. In principle, i ...
, as compared to the
currency A currency, "in circulation", from la, currens, -entis, literally meaning "running" or "traversing" is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general ...
issue.The hologram is a very good security device, as it prevents forgery. There are three printings of this seriesThose of the 3rd printing are the only ones that have been seen by one of the authors. Full sets of this series are now scarce. Series II notes, consisting of $3, $5, $8, $10 and $15 denominations, were printed some time during the year 2000 for release in 2001. They were printed on
cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...
-fibre
paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distrib ...
by Chan Wanich Security Printing Company Limited,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
. The front of these notes is very similar to the Series I notes, apart from the dates and other details. Again, these notes are dual-denominated in cents and dollars. There are also three printings of this series with same-serial numbered sets produced, but not in cardboard folders, having a different hologram than the first currency issue. This hologram is unique in that it incorporates an albatross bird that flies when viewed through a special security device. In 2001, a $5 coin was put into circulation at the same time as the Series II notes. A 5,000 piece issue was then planned; however, informed of the intention to issue a coin, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand banned the issue, despite the fact that there was no $5 coin in circulation in New Zealand. An estimated 200 pieces ended up in the numismatic trade. There are only 200 of the Chatham Islands $5 coins known to exist, specially minted for the release date and issued to the numismatic trade (or to Leon Morel) prior to the ban. The balance, other than a remaining 100 held by CINC, were never minted.


Description

To assist collectors and dealers, a catalogue numbering system has been provided. Below, 'Work' numbers (indicated by the letter 'W') to the items, have been assigned for clarity.


Series I

The date '2000' is in the four corners. The notes have the map of the Chatham Islands at left of the under-print and Chatham Islands
taiko are a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments. In Japanese, the term refers to any kind of drum, but outside Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called and to the form of ensemble drumming ...
at right. Green frame on the backs of the notes. Printer's name at the bottom on the backs of the notes. A hologram depicts a globe showing the Asia-Pacific region with '1st' superimposed, an inner circle with the words 'WORLD FIRST' and 'AUTHENTIC' (which can be seen depending on the direction in which a note is tilted), and an outer circle, which has a rainbow pattern going around like a flywheel. The notes of the same-serial numbered folder issue has '1st' printed in white on top of the hologram, which has an interlocking pattern consisting of the year 2000.


$2 (The Sea)

W1a. Two dollars (200 cents). * Front: Purple and grey-blue under-print. * Back: Lobster, the sea and Chatham Islands
black robin The black robin or Chatham Island robin ( Moriori: ''karure'', mi, kakaruia; ''Petroica traversi'') is an endangered bird from the Chatham Islands off the east coast of New Zealand. It is closely related to the South Island robin (''P. australi ...
. * Theme: The Sea. W1b. Same-serial numbered folder issue. * As above currency issue.


$3 (The Community)

W2a. Three dollars (300 cents). * Front: As above, but purple and red-pink under-print. * Back: First motor vehicle, the community and Chatham Islands black robin. * Theme: The Community. W2b. Same-serial numbered folder issue. * As above currency issue.


$10 (The History)

W3a. Ten dollars (1,000 cents). * Front: As above, but green and yellow-brown under-print. * Back: The history and Chatham Islands black robin. * Theme: The History. W3b. Same-serial numbered folder issue. * As above currency issue.


$15 (The Land)

W4a. Fifteen dollars (1,500 cents). * Front: As above, but green and brown under-print. * Back:
Nikau ''Rhopalostylis sapida'', commonly known as nīkau ( mi, nīkau), is a palm tree endemic to New Zealand, and the only palm native to mainland New Zealand. Etymology is a Māori word; in the closely related Eastern Polynesian languages of the ...
palm, Chathams' horse power and Chatham Islands black robin. * Theme: The Land. W4b. Same-serial numbered folder issue. * As above currency issue.


Series II

They are made of cotton fibre paper. The date 2001 is in three corners. The notes have an albatross replacing the map of the Chatham Islands at left of the under-print. Chatham Islands Taiko at right. Olive-green-black frames on the backs of the notes. The currency notes and the ones in the same-numbered sets have computer style numbering in the serial numbers whereas the replacement notes have block numbers in the serial numbers. The hologram of the notes depicts a compass with a wavy pattern in the outer silver area. The map of the Chatham Islands and the Chatham Islands Note Corporation is seen when a note is tilted in one direction and a
rock lobster "Rock Lobster" is a song written by Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson, two members of the B-52's. It was twice recorded and released as a single, first by DB Records as their debut release in April 1978, and again the following year for the b ...
can be seen when the note is tilted in the other direction. The printer name is at the bottom on the backs of the notes.


$3 (Horse Racing)

W5a. Three dollars (300 cents). * Front: Pink and yellow under-print. * Back: Horse racing, Chatham Islands Jockey Club (1873), Woytek's Fool. * Theme: Horse Racing. W5b. Same-serial numbered issue. * As above currency issue. W5p. As above currency issue, but has the serial number 'A000000'. (Printer's Specimen). W5r. As above currency issue, but the serial number has a star at the end of it. (Replacement note).


$5 (The Ancestors)

W6a. Five dollars (500 cents). * Front: As above, but green and yellow under-print. * Back: Morioris, Woytek's Generations. * Theme: The Ancestors. W6b. Same-serial numbered issue. * As above currency issue. W6p. As above currency issue, but has the serial number 'A000000'. (Printer's Specimen). W6r. As above currency issue, but the serial number has a star at the end of it. (Replacement note).


$8 (Center — The Message)

W7a. Eight dollars (800 cents). * Front: As above, but lilac and blue under-print. * Back: A new dawn with the Spring symphony and guardians of Mt Hakepa,
Pitt Island Pitt Island is the second largest island in the Chatham Archipelago, New Zealand. It is called ''Rangiauria'' in Māori and ''Rangiaotea'' in ''Moriori.Government of New Zealand, Dept. of Conservation (1999) Chatham IslandsConservation Managem ...
. Map of the Chatham Islands. * Theme: Center — The Message. W7b. Same-serial numbered issue. * As above currency issue. W7p. As above currency issue, but has the serial number 'A000000'. (Printer's Specimen). W7r. As above, but the serial number has a star at the end of it. (Replacement note).


$10 (Wrestler)

W8a. Ten dollars (1,000 cents). * Front: As above, but lilac-blue and green-yellow under-print. * Back:
Abe Jacobs Abe Jacobs (born June 18, 1928) is a New Zealand retired professional wrestler. He was one of the first men to follow fellow New Zealander Pat O'Connor to the United States where, like O'Connor, Jacobs became a major star in the National Wres ...
World Champion Wrestler, Woytek's Warrior. * Theme: Wrestler. W8b. Same-serial numbered issue. * As above currency issue. W8p. As above currency issue, but has the serial number 'A000000'. (Printer's Specimen). W8r. As above currency issue, but the serial number has a star at the end of it. (Replacement note).


$15 (Sunderland Flying Boat)

W9a. Fifteen dollars (1,500 cents). * Front: As above, but blue, pink and yellow under-print. * Back:
Short Sunderland The Short S.25 Sunderland is a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North Ea ...
, Woytek's Astronomer. * Theme: Flying Boat. W9b. Same-serial numbered issue. * As above currency issue. W9p. As above currency issue, but has the serial number 'A000000'. (Printer's Specimen). W9r. As above currency issue, but the serial number has a star at the end of it. (Replacement note).


Collector Series

* WCSI. Series I Same-serial numbered folder issue (W1b — W4b). * WCSII. Series II Same-serial numbered issue (W5b — W9b).


Uncut Sheets

These were only issued for Series II (W5 - W9). These have a four-digit serial number range from S0001 to S1000. * WUSI. 4×$3. * WUSII. 3×$5. * WUSIII. 3×$8. * WUSIV. 2×$10. * WUSV. 2×$15.


Signature chart

* Director of the Corporation  — Secretary of the Treasury. * Series I. Clint McInnes. John Day. * Series II. Indecipherable. J. Day. Error notes are not listed, even though these do exist, nor have the postal notes and
postal order A postal order or postal note is a type of money order usually intended for sending money through the mail. It is purchased at a post office and is payable at another post office to the named recipient. A fee for the service, known as poundage, ...
s that were issued in the Chatham Islands.


WCI. $5 Milled Edge Coin 1-1/4 inches (30 mm) in diameter

Limited number (less than 300 are known to exist) - Now scarce * Obverse: A head-and-shoulders portrait of Tommy Solomon (born 1884, died 1933. Popularly believed to have been the last full-blooded Moriori) splitting the date '2001'. The inscription,'FIVE NEW MILLENNIUM DOLLARS' is below the portrait. * Reverse: Map of the Chatham Islands with '$5' below. It is inscribed, 'CHATHAM ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND TERRITORIES SOUTH PACIFIC'.


WCII. Sterling Silver $50 Milled Edge Coin 1.5 inches (38 mm) in diameter

Scarce * Obverse: A portrait of
King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...
(ruled 1760–1820) based on Benedetto Pistrucci's portrait as used on the British 1/2 Crown of 1817–20, the 5-shilling (1 Crown) of 1818–20, 1/2 Sovereign of 1817–20, the Sovereign of 1818 and 1820, the 2 pounds and 5 pounds pattern coins of 1820. The monogram 'G III' is split at the forehead level. The inscription, 'CHATHAM ISLANDS' is above the King's portrait. The dates '1760–1820' are inscribed below the chin. The date '2001' appears below the truncation. The inscription, 'FIFTY DOLLAR MILLENNIUM SILVER PIECE' goes from behind the King's portrait around to the front at eye level. * Reverse: The design is a compass pointing North, a ship, and an 18th-century Royal Navy officer's hat with the number '50' superimposed on the hat. The outer inscriptions are ' LIEUT BROUGHTON. BRIG CHATHAM 1791'. The inner inscription is 'DISCOVERY OF THE CHATHAM ISLANDS 44 DEG S LAT 176 DEG 20 MIN W LONG'. The inscription 'FIFTY DOLLAR PIECE' appears below the '50'. * The $50 coin is a dual commemorative: The Millennium and the 210th Anniversary of the British discovery of the Chatham Islands. * Both the $5 and the $50 coins have milled edges. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand banned the issue of the coin in 2001. There are not more than 25 pieces of the $50 coin known to exist.


Additional information


Notes

Verified - Chatham Islands Note Corporation Limited


References


External links


Chatham Islands "dollars" not legal by 'negotiable' tender




* ttp://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1002180 Extract from the New Zealand Registrar of Companies website {{Portal bar, Money, Numismatics, Oceania
Chatham Islands The Chatham Islands ( ) (Moriori: ''Rēkohu'', 'Misty Sun'; mi, Wharekauri) are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about east of New Zealand's South Island. They are administered as part of New Zealand. The archipelago consists of about te ...
History of the Chatham Islands Local currencies Currencies of New Zealand Currencies of Oceania Modern obsolete currencies Dollar