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Story: Coins and banknotes

Smuggling coins

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Smuggling coins

In January 1933 the government depreciated the New Zealand currency in an attempt to improve export returns. This led to a rise in coin smuggling because they were now worth more in Britain than in New Zealand. Smugglers concealed coins in a range of ways, including in cylinders such as the one described in this 1933 newspaper article.

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National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past

Reference: <a href="https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19331124.2.84">Evening Post, 24 November 1933, p. 8</a>

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Coins and banknotes – A national currency, 1930s to 1960s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/36386/smuggling-coins (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 June 2012.