ANNALS OF THE NOVA SCOTIAN CUREENCY. 39 



dollar to the value of the five franc piece and make that the universal unit, the proposi- 

 tion should be adopted in Canada. This would have required very little change in the 

 Nova Scotian standard, but it now seems unlikely ever to be carried into eiFect. 



There were coinages of pennies and halfpennies in 1840 and 1843, but, not having 

 had access to the correspondence and minutes of council ordering their issue, no details 

 can be given as to the number of pieces struck or their cost. The mistake referred to re- 

 garding the coinage of 1832 has not been repeated in this instance for, although the 

 design is otherwise the same, the head of Victoria has been substituted for the bust of 

 George IV. The workmanship shows a decline from that of the last coinage, for the 

 Queen's portrait lacks expression while the whole finish is inartistic. A number of 

 varieties occur in each date, some of which are poorer in execution than others. 

 Estimating these coiuages each to number 150,000 pennies and 300,000 halfpennies their 

 face value should ainount to about £2,166 13s 4d. 



In 1855 the copper coin in circulation was again reported to be inadequate, and an 

 order in council was passed authorising the importation of "<£1,000 sterling in penny and 

 halfpenny pieces." ' In compliance with this order the deputy provincial secretary 

 wrote to Baring Brothers & Co., in London, instructing them to procure for the Province 

 150,000 pennies and 300,000 halfpennies, similar to those of 1843, with the date changed 

 to 1855." They were advised, at the same time, to confer with the Honourable Joseph 

 Howe, then on a visit to London, with regard to any change in the design or such other 

 improvements as he might suggest. At that time an energetic society, with branches 

 throughout the province, met at Halifax, which for a number of years had been spread- 

 ing a purer spirit of patriotism among the people and trying to instil into their minds a 

 greater love of country. A provincial flag and other emblems, calculated to stimulate 

 Nova Scotian patriotism, were either suggested or adopted. Paramount among these was 

 the May-flower ' so abundant iu the forests of the Province. It was made the theme of 

 the orator, talked about in the streets, illustrated and paragraphed in the newspapers and, 

 to the exclusion of all other flowers, worn in bution-holes until it came to be known and 

 loved in every town and hamlet throughout the Province. The moving spirit in this 

 patriotic propaganda was John S. Thompson, father of Sir John Thompson, a teacher in 

 one of the Halifax schools. He was a fair botanist, and, as the first to suggest the May- 

 flower, was constant in his efforts to secure its official recognition as a provincial emblem. 

 According to one of his pupils, who well remembers the circumstances, he spent con- 

 siderable time in his spare hours drawing designs of sprigs of this plant. When at 

 length a design had been drawn to his satisfaction he forwarded it to the Honoiirable 

 Joseph Howe, with whom he was on intimate terms, to be reproduced on the new 

 coinage.^ This was put in the hands of L. C. Wyon, one of the- celebrated family of 

 engravers, to be perfected as a piece of numismatic art, while the mechanical work was 



' Appendix VIII, a. 



- Appendix VIII, u. 



■' Epigea repenn, known also as trailing arbutus or ground laurel. 



* The wording of the deputy's letter shows clearly that he had been induced to leave the ([uestion of tlie 

 design to the discretion of the mini.ster in London in order that influence could be brought to bear on him for the 

 adoption of the May-flower. This was an oflicial recognition most desired by the promoters. It had been adopted 

 by the temperance society as an emblem on their medal issued some time before. See Appendix XI, f, No. 06. 



