New Guinea, 1938 AD., Australian territory, George VI, 1 Shilling, KM 8.

New Guinea, Australian territory, George VI, engraver: George Edward Kruger-Gray (obverse), 1938 AD.,
1 Shilling (23,5 mm / 5,42 g), center hole, 0.925 silver, 5,38 g theor. mint weight, mintage 3.400.000 , medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), milled edge, varnished,
Obv.: GEORGIUS VI. D. G. - .REX ET IND. IMP. * / K - G , center hole flanked by crossed scepters with crown above and six-pointed star below, engraver´s initials below.
Rev.: TERRYTORY OF NEW GUINEA / KG / .ONE SHILLING. 1938. , center hole flanked by cross-shaped design, engraver´s initials below.
KM 8 .

Year / Mintage
1938 3,400,000
1945 2,000,000

The island of New Guinea was discovered by Spanish navigator Jorge de Menezes, who landed on the northwest shore in 1527. Attracted by exaggerated estimates of the resources available, the island was claimed, in part or whole, by Spain, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Germany. The first European contact in 1526-27 was by the Portuguese explorer Jorge de Meneses, who named the island Ilhas dos Papuas (Island of the Fuzzy Hairs). The Spaniard Inigo Ortiz de Retes later called it New Guinea because he thought the people similar to those of Guinea in Africa. Further exploration followed, including landings by Bougainville, Cook, Stanley and John Moresby. New Guinea was left alone for several centuries, with only the Dutch making any effort to assert European authority over the island. But in 1824, the Dutch (seeking to shore up their profitable Dutch East Indies empire) formalised their claims to sovereignty over the western portion of the island. Germany followed, taking possession of the northern part of the territory in 1884. At the same time Great Britain declared a protectorate over the southern region with outright annexation occurring four years later. In 1906, British New Guinea became Papua, and administration of the region was taken over by newly independent Australia. With the outbreak of WWI, Australian troops promptly secured the German headquarters at Rabaul, subsequently taking control of German New Guinea. In 1920, the League of Nations officially handed it over to Australia as a mandated territory. After World War II, the eastern half of New Guinea reverted to Australia and became the Territory of Papua & New Guinea. PNG was granted self-government in 1973, and full independence was achieved in 1975.

Papua, formerly British New Guinea, situated in the southeastern quarter of the island, had an area of 234,499 square kilometers (90,540 square miles) and a population of 750,000. It was temporarily annexed by Queensland in 1883 and by the British Crown in 1888. British New Guinea used the standard British monetary system where 12 pence = 1 shilling and 20 shillings = 1 pound. Papua came under the control of the Australian Commonwealth in 1901 and became the Territory of Papua in 1906.

In 1884, Germany annexed the area known as German New Guinea (also Neu Guinea or Kaiser Wilhelmsland) comprising the northeastern quarter of the island and granted its administration and development to the Neu-Guinea Compagnie. Administration reverted to Germany in 1889 following the failure of the company to exercise adequate administration. While a German protectorate, German New Guinea had an area of 238,692 square kilometers (92,159 square miles) and a population of 250,000. The capital was Hebertshohe (later Rabaul). German New Guinea used a German decimal money system where 100 Pfennig = 1 Mark. Australian troops occupied German New Guinea in August, 1914, shortly after Britain declared war on Germany. It was mandated to Australia by the League of Nations in 1920, known as the Territory of New Guinea.

Japan invaded New Guinea and Papua in early 1942, but Australian control was restored before the end of the year in Papua and in 1945 in New Guinea. Following Japanese surrender, both territories came under U.N. trusteeship with Australia as the administering power. The Papua and New Guinea Act, 1949 provided for the government of Papua and New Guinea as one administrative unit. After World War II, Australian currency was used exclusively in the two territories.

On December 1, 1973, Papua New Guinea became self governing with Australia retaining responsibility for defense and foreign affairs. Full independence was achieved within the British Commonwealth on September 16, 1975. Following independence, the country commenced its own currency issues using a decimal system where 100 Toea = 1 Kina.