Five Cents, Coin Type from New Zealand - detailed information

The New Zealand five-cent coin was the lowest denomination coin of the New Zealand dollar from 1990 to 2006. The five-cent coin was introduced when the New Zealand dollar was introduced on 10 July 1967, replacing the New Zealand sixpence coin, which - having exactly the same dimensions - remained legal tender and in parallel use.

The reverse of the five cents features a tuatara (a lizard-like reptile, the last surviving member of an otherwise extinct family). The image was designed by Reginald George James Berry, who designed the reverses for all coins introduced that year. The one exception was a five cent coin distributed in the 150th Anniversary mint sets in 1990, featuring a kotuku bird.

The composition is 75% copper and 25% nickel.

On 31 July 2006 the denomination was eliminated as part of a revision of New Zealand's coins, and was demonetised (no longer legal tender) as of 1 November 2006. Many coins were recalled and melted.

According to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, a total of 616,546,000 (617 mln) circulation coins of the denomination were minted throughout its existence.

Counting proofs and coins in mint sets, a total of 617,508,200 (618 million) coins of the denomination were minted during its existence.