The pound was the currency of the Australian

Territory of New Guinea The Territory of New Guinea was an Australian-administered United Nations trust territory on the island of New Guinea from 1914 until 1975. In 1949, the Territory and the Territory of Papua were established in an administrative union by the na ...

between 1915 and 1966, and replaced the New Guinean mark when Australia occupied the former German colony at the end of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. The New Guinean pound was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence, and was equal to the Australian pound. No banknotes were ever issued; all denominations larger than one shilling were Australian currency. The Australian pound currency circulated alongside coins issued specifically for New Guinea between 1929 and 1945.http://en.numista.com/catalogue/nouvelle_guinee-1.html Numista New Guinean coins ceased to be produced in 1945. Between 1942 and 1945, the Oceanian pound circulated, issued by the Japanese occupiers. Australian coins and banknotes resumed circulation after the war and continued until the

Papua New Guinean kina The Kina (ISO 4217 currency code: ''PGK'', the currency symbol: ''K'') is the currency of Papua New Guinea. It is divided into 100 ''toea''. The name ''Kina'' is derived from Kuanua language of the Tolai region, referring to a callable pearl ...

, which was introduced on 19 April 1975, replaced the

Australian dollar The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the currency of Australia, including its external territories: Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island. It is officially used as currency by three independent Pacific Isl ...

at par. The Australian dollar continued to be legal tender in PNG until 1 January 1976 when it was withdrawn.

Coins

In 1929, nickel halfpennies and pennies, as well as cupro-nickel pennies were introduced. These (as well as all subsequent New Guinean coins) were holed. The inscription on the reverse read: ''Georgius V. D G Rex et Ind. Imp.'', which translates from Latin as, " George the Fifth, by the Grace of God King and Emperor of India". The inscription on the obverse reads ''Territory of New Guinea.'' These coins are extremely rare, as they were withdrawn shortly after being released. These coins were followed in 1935 by threepences, sixpences and shillings. The following year, pennies were minted depicting

King Edward VIII Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire and Emperor of India from 20 January 19 ...

. That was relatively rare because Edward abdicated less than eleven months after succeeding to the throne, meaning that most

Dominion The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire. "Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 192 ...

s and colonies which featured the British monarch on their currency had not yet redesigned their coins. Coins of varying denominations were minted under the reign of

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of I ...

, beginning in 1938. In 1945, production of New Guinean coins ceased until

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

started circulating its own currency (

) in April 1975.

Gallery

File:1936 New Guinea Penny - Obverse.png, 1936 penny, obverse File:1936 New Guinea Penny - Reverse.png, 1936 penny, reverse File:Australian New Guinea 1936 Silver Shilling.jpg, 1936 shilling File:Permanent surver marker of Papua New Guinea.jpg, Survey marker bearing the initials of the

Territory of Papua and New Guinea The Territory of Papua and New Guinea, officially the Administrative Union of the Territory of Papua and the Territory of New Guinea, was established by an administrative union between the Australian-administered territories of Papua and New G ...

and indicating a fine for interference denominated in New Guinean pounds.

References

External links

Online Coin Club / Coins from Territory of New Guinea
Currencies of the British Empire Currencies of the Commonwealth of Nations Currencies of Papua New Guinea Modern obsolete currencies Currencies of Asia Currencies of Oceania Currencies introduced in 1915 Territory of New Guinea Territory of Papua and New Guinea {{Australia-stub