Friday 15 March sees the 22nd International Mowbray Coin, Medal and Banknote auction, with 604 lots on offer in
Wellington. The auction is a real read-out on New Zealand’s history. It also has the most comprehensive offering of New
Zealand gold coins ever in New Zealand, including the most expensive, a 2017 5 oz gold $150 coin, portraying a Taniwha,
estimated at $12,500.
From Auckland come two large silver cattle show medals estimated at $600, awarded on 6 November 1866 to Every McLean,
farmer, Howick Troop Cavalry Captain and one-time Superintendent of Auckland Province. McLean got these for prize
Southdown ram hogs, in the first show since 1862, the intervening ones being cancelled because cattle were needed to
feed soldiers in the New Zealand Wars.
The earliest British settlement in New Zealand is represented by a cheque of the New Zealand Banking Company,
Kororarika, 1840 - 1845, estimated at $500.
From Taranaki comes a pair of medals awarded to Colonel Charles Stapp, an Irishman who served in New Zealand from 1845
to 1856 with the British Army, including at the 1845 battle at Ohaeawai, where he assisted a badly wounded man under
fire, before moving to Taranaki and becoming a highly respected militia commanding officer before retiring in 1891. His
New Zealand Medal and long service medal are estimated at $5000.
The auction provides a read-out on ancient history too, with Greek silver coins dating to the 5th century BC and British
coins dating to King Aethelred the Unready (997 AD – 1003 AD) before the Battle of Hastings and before New Zealand was
settled. Mowbrays say coins are the easiest way for the person in the street to hold a piece of ancient history in their
hands.