Coins of the Hawaiian dollar

In 1847, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, under the reign of King Kamehaheha III, issued its first official coinage—a large one-cent copper penny—to alleviate the chronic shortage of small denomination coins circulating in the Hawaiian Islands. The next and last official coinage of the Hawaiian Islands was minted in 1883, by King Kalākaua I; however during the intervening period, the changing needs of the Hawaiian Islands were met by circulating private-issued tokens and the coins of the United States of America.

The following is a list of known coins and tokens issued by the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and various business concerns during the period of 1847 through 1891. The referenced catalog numbers used in this article are from the book, Hawaiian Money: Standard Catalog: Second Edition, 1991 by Donald Medcalf and Ronald Russell.[1]

Kingdom of Hawaiʻi

1847 Kamehaheha III issue

Background

Keneta
The ill-fated Keneta was commissioned by King Kamehameha III. Coined money was in great demand in the Hawaiian Islands and was in continual shortage in the early nineteenth century. In response, King Kamehameha III devoted Chapter 4, Section 1 of the legal code of 1846 to the monetary system of the kingdom, tying it directly to that of the United States, thus normalizing the rate of transaction of small change in the islands and their corresponding values to United States money. Anticipating growing coined money needs, the legal code also outlined future Hawaiian coin designs.

Of the first coins decided to be acted upon was the Keneta - a copper coin valued at one cent of a U.S. dollar. As the Hawaiian Treasury was in shortage of funds during this period, the copper cent was seen as an initial "affordable" issue to be followed by other denominations at a later date. James Jackson Jarves, acting as agent for the Hawaiian Government, placed an order for 100,000 of these coins in 1846. He contracted Edward Hulseman - best known for his 1837 Half Cent token – to design and engrave the coin. It is not known precisely where the pieces were minted – although Walter Breen in Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins asserts that they were produced at the private mint of H. M. & E. I. Richards of Attleboro, Massachusetts; regardless, Jarves was given a note dated January 14, 1847 in the amount of $869.56 by the Minister of Finance as payment for the order.

On 3 May 1847 the merchant ship Montreal arrived in Honolulu after sailing from Boston via Rio de Janeiro, Cape Horn and Tahiti. The Keneta were part of the cargo delivered to the Minister of Finance. When the coins reached the public they proved a grave disappointment. There has been some claim that the denomination was misspelled "Hapa Haneri" instead of the correct "Hapa Hanele" (which translates to "part of a hundred" or loosely "one cent"). However, "Hapa Hanele" is a 20th-century spelling. The spelling "Haneri" was used throughout the 19th century, and also appears on the $100 and $500 bills issued during the reign of King Kalakaua. Reports of the time state that the King's portrait was unrecognizable. In addition, the Keneta also arrived worn or discolored by the humidity and bilge water of the Montreal, in whose hold they had spent many months. Local merchants, who were "against very small transactions," immediately voiced their objections to the coins; and the only general usage witnessed was by governors of the outer islands who used them as change when collecting duties and taxes.

The last known time of issue for the Keneta was in 1862, when 11,595 were still being held in the Treasury vault. Their legal tender status was removed in 1884, and in the following year 88,305 were sold as scrap and shipped out of the country.

The Keneta is about the same size as the United States Large Cent. The coin bears a bust of the king on the obverse surrounded by the legend "KAMEHAMEHA III. KA MOI." and the date 1847 below. The reverse has "HAPA HANERI" within a leafy wreath, tied with a bow at bottom, surrounded by "AUPUNI HAWAII." There are two different obverse varieties: one shows a Plain 4 in the date, while the other has a "Crosslet" 4 (with a vertical bar at the right end of the horizontal line). The Plain 4 is commonly known as the "Small Bust" type, while the Crosslet 4 is called the "Large Bust." There are also six separate varieties of reverse dies with the wreath displaying 13, 15, 17 or 18 berries, with 2CC-6 being the rarest followed by 2CC-1. Modern souvenir restrikes have been made, and have no value.

Technical Details

Keneta

Medcalf & Russell numbers

1881 Five Cent Pattern Issue

Background

5 Keneta

In 1881, on a trip around the world King Kalākaua I was approached in Vienna, Austria by officials representing the French and Belgian mints. These officials suggested that a national coinage be issued for his island kingdom. King Kalākaua I was pleased with the idea of independent coinage for his Kingdom that he ordered patterns for the new coin to be struck.[2] A spelling mistake by the engraver substituted the word "Au" for "Ua" in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi motto Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono. 200 patterns with King Kalākaua I in profile were minted in Paris and forwarded to the king upon his return to his island kingdom.[1] The subjects of the Kingdom of Hawaii did not approve of the new coin due to the misspelling of the Kingdom's motto. Many of these coins were subsequently destroyed or distributed among the friends of the king.[2]

Medcalf & Russell numbers

1883 Kalākaua I issues

10 keneta ("one dime") coin of 1883.

These coins were minted in 1883-84 (all bearing the earlier date) at the San Francisco Mint, to American coinage standards and saw wide circulation on the islands. They were designed by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. Following American annexation in 1898 large numbers were withdrawn from circulation and melted.[3]

trials


official version

Mintages of the Hawaiian coins, and the numbers melted by the United States government following their demonetization in 1903, are as follows:

In addition, 26 proof sets were made for presentation to dignitaries.

Tokens

John T. Waterhouse

Background

John Thomas Waterhouse Token
The Waterhouse token is struck in white metal - a substance similar to pewter or plumbers putty. It is recognized as the earliest known Hawaiian token; although the use of the token and the date of issue is unclear. The firm of J. T. Waterhouse, established in 1851, were importers of dry goods in the 19th century; the firm is still active in several business enterprises today.

The obverse features a facing bust of Kamehameha III, though with the surrounding legend reading "HIS MAJESTY KAMEHAMEHA IV". The reverse shows a beehive in the center with the issuer's name at top and "HALE MAIKAI" - meaning house excellent, or a good place to do business - below. The token was known as hale meli in Hawaiian, recalling the beehive on the reverse.

Medcalf and Russell numbers

Wailuku Plantation


Kahului & Wailuku Railroad


Kahului Railroad

Haiku Plantation


Grove Ranch Plantation

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Medcalf, Donald & Ronald Russell (1991). Hawaiian Money: Standard Catalog: Second Edition. Honolulu: Nani Stamp & Coin LTD. ISBN 0-9623263-0-5
  2. 1 2 Coins of Hawaii Subject Talk by Numismatist, Honolulu Star Bulletin, March, 1914
  3. ↑ Hawaii’s Coinage 1847-1883
  • Arndt, John, "Coins of Hawaii Subject Talk by Numismatist," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 14 March 1914, p. 22.
  • Breen, Walter (1988). Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia Of U.S. And Colonial Coins. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-14207-2.
  • Bruce, Colin R. II (senior editor) (2006). 2007 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901–2000 (34th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0896893650. 
  • Kingdom of Hawaii (1846). Statute Laws of His Majesty Kamehameha III, King of the Hawaiian Islands; Passed by the Houses of Nobles and Representatives, During the Twenty-First year of His Reign, and the Third and Fourth years of His Public Recognition, A.D. 1845 and 1846: To which are Appended the Acts of Public Recognition, and the Treaties with Other Nations. Honolulu: Charles E. Hitchcock, Printer, Government Press.
  • Krause, Chester L. and Mishler, Clifford. 1995 Standard Catalog of World Coins. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-281-8.
  • Medcalf, Donald & Ronald Russell (1991). Hawaiian Money: Standard Catalog: Second Edition. Honolulu: Nani Stamp & Coin LTD. ISBN 0-9623263-0-5.
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