New Zealand: Coins Issued and Used
Showing only circulating coin types (regular coinage plus circulating commemoratives).
| Information about what currencies were issued by New Zealand, with lists of coinage, as well as periods when foreign-issued currencies were used. |
| Currency | New Zealand Pound |
|---|---|
| Period | New Zealand Pound |
| Used | 1840 - 1967 |
| Description | The pound (symbol £, or NZ£ for distinction) was the currency of New Zealand from 1840 until 1967, when it was replaced by the New Zealand dollar. Like the British pound, it was subdivided into 20 shillings (symbol s) each of 12 pence (symbol d). As a result of the great depression of the early 1930s, the New Zealand agricultural export market to the UK was badly affected. The Australian banks, which controlled the New Zealand exchanges with London, decided to devalue the New Zealand pound in relation to sterling in the UK. By 1933, the New Zealand pound had fallen to a value of only 16 shillings sterling. In 1948 however, it was once again restored to its original sterling value. In 1967, New Zealand decimalised its currency, replacing the pound with the dollar at a rate of $2 = £1 (or $1 = 10s). |
3 coins (1935 - 1953)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Waitangi Crown 1935 | 1,128 |
| Royal Visit Crown 1949 | 200,020 |
| Coronation Crown 1953 | 257,000 |
21 coins (1933 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Half Crown 1933 | 2,000,020 |
| Half Crown 1934 | 2,720,020 |
| Half Crown 1935 | 612,364 |
| Half Crown 1937 | 672,200 |
| Half Crown 1940 (Centennial) | 100,800 |
| Half Crown 1941 | 776,000 |
| Half Crown 1942 | 240,000 |
| Half Crown 1943 | 1,120,000 |
| Half Crown 1944 | 180,000 |
| Half Crown 1945 | 420,000 |
| Half Crown 1946 | 960,000 |
| Half Crown 1947 | 1,600,020 |
| Half Crown 1948 | 1,400,000 |
| Half Crown 1949 | 2,800,000 |
| Half Crown 1950 | 3,600,000 |
| Half Crown 1951 | 1,200,000 |
| Half Crown 1953 | 127,000 |
| Half Crown 1961 | 80,000 |
| Half Crown 1962 | 600,000 |
| Half Crown 1963 | 400,000 |
| Half Crown 1965 (mint sets only) | 225,010 |
23 coins (1933 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Florin 1933 | 2,100,020 |
| Florin 1934 | 2,850,020 |
| Florin 1935 | 755,364 |
| Florin 1936 | 150,000 |
| Florin 1937 | 1,190,200 |
| Florin 1940 | 500,000 |
| Florin 1941 | 820,000 |
| Florin 1942 | 150,000 |
| Florin 1943 | 1,400,000 |
| Florin 1944 | 140,000 |
| Florin 1945 | 515,000 |
| Florin 1946 | 1,200,000 |
| Florin 1947 | 2,500,020 |
| Florin 1948 | 1,750,000 |
| Florin 1949 | 3,500,000 |
| Florin 1950 | 3,500,000 |
| Florin 1951 | 2,000,000 |
| Florin 1953 | 257,000 |
| Florin 1961 | 1,500,000 |
| Florin 1962 | 1,500,000 |
| Florin 1963 | 100,000 |
| Florin 1964 | 2,000,000 |
| Florin 1965 | 9,475,010 |
28 coins (1933 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Shilling 1933 | 2,000,020 |
| Shilling 1934 | 3,400,020 |
| Shilling 1935 | 1,680,364 |
| Shilling 1937 | 890,200 |
| Shilling 1940 | 500,000 |
| Shilling 1941 | 360,000 |
| Shilling 1942 | 240,000 |
| Shilling 1943 | 900,000 |
| Shilling 1944 | 480,000 |
| Shilling 1945 | 1,030,000 |
| Shilling 1946 | 1,060,000 |
| Shilling 1947 | 2,800,020 |
| Shilling 1948 | 1,000,000 |
| Shilling 1950 | 600,000 |
| Shilling 1951 | 1,200,000 |
| Shilling 1952 | 600,000 |
| Shilling 1953 | 207,000 |
| Shilling 1955 | 200,000 |
| Shilling 1956 | 800,000 |
| Shilling 1957 | 800,000 |
| Shilling 1958 | 1,000,000 |
| Shilling 1959 | 600,000 |
| Shilling 1960 | 600,000 |
| Shilling 1961 | 400,000 |
| Shilling 1962 | 1,000,000 |
| Shilling 1963 | 600,000 |
| Shilling 1964 | 1,400,000 |
| Shilling 1965 | 4,525,010 |
31 coins (1933 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Sixpence 1933 | 3,000,020 |
| Sixpence 1934 | 3,600,020 |
| Sixpence 1935 | 560,364 |
| Sixpence 1936 | 1,580,000 |
| Sixpence 1937 | 1,280,000 |
| Sixpence 1939 | 700,000 |
| Sixpence 1940 | 800,000 |
| Sixpence 1941 | 440,000 |
| Sixpence 1942 | 360,000 |
| Sixpence 1943 | 1,800,000 |
| Sixpence 1944 | 1,160,000 |
| Sixpence 1945 | 940,000 |
| Sixpence 1946 | 2,120,000 |
| Sixpence 1947 | 3,200,020 |
| Sixpence 1948 | 2,000,000 |
| Sixpence 1950 | 800,000 |
| Sixpence 1951 | 1,800,000 |
| Sixpence 1952 | 3,200,000 |
| Sixpence 1953 | 1,207,000 |
| Sixpence 1954 | 1,200,000 |
| Sixpence 1955 | 1,600,000 |
| Sixpence 1956 | 2,000,000 |
| Sixpence 1957 | 2,400,000 |
| Sixpence 1958 | 3,000,000 |
| Sixpence 1959 | 2,000,000 |
| Sixpence 1960 | 1,600,000 |
| Sixpence 1961 | 800,000 |
| Sixpence 1962 | 1,200,000 |
| Sixpence 1963 | 800,000 |
| Sixpence 1964 | 3,800,000 |
| Sixpence 1965 | 8,625,010 |
31 coins (1933 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Threepence 1933 | 6,000,020 |
| Threepence 1934 | 6,000,020 |
| Threepence 1935 | 40,364 |
| Threepence 1936 | 2,760,000 |
| Threepence 1937 | 2,880,200 |
| Threepence 1939 | 3,000,000 |
| Threepence 1940 | 2,000,000 |
| Threepence 1941 | 1,760,000 |
| Threepence 1942 | 3,120,000 |
| Threepence 1943 | 4,400,000 |
| Threepence 1944 | 2,840,000 |
| Threepence 1945 | 2,520,000 |
| Threepence 1946 | 6,080,000 |
| Threepence 1947 | 6,400,020 |
| Threepence 1948 | 4,000,000 |
| Threepence 1950 | 800,000 |
| Threepence 1951 | 3,600,000 |
| Threepence 1952 | 8,000,000 |
| Threepence 1953 | 4,007,000 |
| Threepence 1954 | 4,000,000 |
| Threepence 1955 | 4,000,000 |
| Threepence 1956 | 4,800,000 |
| Threepence 1957 | 8,000,000 |
| Threepence 1958 | 4,800,000 |
| Threepence 1959 | 4,000,000 |
| Threepence 1960 | 4,000,000 |
| Threepence 1961 | 4,800,000 |
| Threepence 1962 | 6,000,000 |
| Threepence 1963 | 4,000,000 |
| Threepence 1964 | 6,400,000 |
| Threepence 1965 | 4,225,010 |
25 coins (1940 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Penny 1940 | 5,424,005 |
| Penny 1941 | 1,200,000 |
| Penny 1942 | 3,120,000 |
| Penny 1943 | 8,400,000 |
| Penny 1944 | 3,696,000 |
| Penny 1945 | 4,764,000 |
| Penny 1946 | 6,720,000 |
| Penny 1947 | 5,880,000 |
| Penny 1949 | 2,016,000 |
| Penny 1950 | 5,784,000 |
| Penny 1951 | 6,888,000 |
| Penny 1952 | 10,800,000 |
| Penny 1953 | 2,407,000 |
| Penny 1954 | 1,080,000 |
| Penny 1955 | 3,720,000 |
| Penny 1956 | 3,600,000 |
| Penny 1957 | 2,400,000 |
| Penny 1958 | 10,800,000 |
| Penny 1959 | 8,400,000 |
| Penny 1960 | 7,200,000 |
| Penny 1961 | 7,200,000 |
| Penny 1962 | 6,000,000 |
| Penny 1963 | 2,400,000 |
| Penny 1964 | 18,000,000 |
| Penny 1965 (mint sets only) | 225,010 |
24 coins (1940 - 1965)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Halfpenny 1940 | 3,432,005 |
| Halfpenny 1941 | 960,000 |
| Halfpenny 1942 | 1,920,000 |
| Halfpenny 1944 | 2,035,200 |
| Halfpenny 1945 | 1,516,800 |
| Halfpenny 1946 | 3,120,000 |
| Halfpenny 1947 | 2,726,400 |
| Halfpenny 1949 | 1,766,400 |
| Halfpenny 1950 | 1,425,600 |
| Halfpenny 1951 | 2,342,400 |
| Halfpenny 1952 | 2,400,000 |
| Halfpenny 1953 | 727,000 |
| Halfpenny 1954 | 240,000 |
| Halfpenny 1955 | 240,000 |
| Halfpenny 1956 | 1,200,000 |
| Halfpenny 1957 | 1,440,000 |
| Halfpenny 1958 | 1,920,000 |
| Halfpenny 1959 | 1,920,000 |
| Halfpenny 1960 | 2,400,000 |
| Halfpenny 1961 | 2,880,000 |
| Halfpenny 1962 | 2,880,000 |
| Halfpenny 1963 | 1,680,000 |
| Halfpenny 1964 | 2,880,000 |
| Halfpenny 1965 | 5,225,010 |
| Currency | New Zealand Dollar |
|---|---|
| Period | New Zealand Dollar |
| Used | 1967 - present |
| Description | Prior to the introduction of the New Zealand dollar in 1967, the New Zealand pound was the currency of New Zealand, which had been distinct from the pound sterling since 1933. The pound used the £sd system, in which the pound was divided into 20 shillings and one shilling was divided into 12 pence, which by the 1950s was considered complicated and cumbersome. Switching to decimal currency had been proposed in New Zealand since the 1930s, although only in the 1950s did any plans come to fruition. In 1957, a committee was set up by the Government to investigate decimal currency. The idea fell on fertile ground, and in 1963, the Government decided to decimalise New Zealand currency. The Decimal Currency Act was passed in 1964, setting the date of transition to 10 July 1967. Words such as "kiwi" and "zeal" were proposed to avoid confusion with the word "dollar", which many people at the time associated with the United States dollar. In the end, the word "dollar" was chosen anyway, and an anthropomorphic dollar note cartoon character called "Mr. Dollar" became the symbol of transition in a huge publicity campaign. The Decimal Currency Act prescribed the designs, diameters, and standard weights of the decimal coins. The reverses of the new decimal coins were all designed by Reginald George James Berry (known as James) of Wellington. The obverse design was by Arnold Machin (later superseded by other effigies of Her majesty). On Monday 10 July 1967 ("Decimal Currency Day"), the New Zealand dollar was introduced to replace the pound at a rate of two dollars to one pound (one dollar to ten shillings, ten cents to one shilling, 5⁄6 cent to a penny). Some 27 million new banknotes were printed and 165 million new coins were minted for the changeover. |
34 coins (1990 - 2023)
34 coins (1990 - 2023)
61 coins (1967 - 2023). First 50 shown.
59 coins (1967 - 2023). First 50 shown.
60 coins (1967 - 2023). First 50 shown.
41 coins (1967 - 2006)
23 coins (1967 - 1988)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| Two Cents 1967 | 75,300,010 |
| Two Cents 1967 (no date, Bahamas mule) | 50,000 |
| Two Cents 1968 (mint sets only) | 75,000 |
| Two Cents 1969 | 20,560,000 |
| Two Cents 1970 (mint sets only) | 50,010 |
| Two Cents 1971 | 15,070,000 |
| Two Cents 1972 | 17,533,045 |
| Two Cents 1973 | 38,573,000 |
| Two Cents 1974 | 50,023,000 |
| Two Cents 1975 | 20,025,000 |
| Two Cents 1976 | 15,027,000 |
| Two Cents 1977 | 20,012,000 |
| Two Cents 1978 (mint sets only) | 38,000 |
| Two Cents 1979 (mint sets only) | 41,000 |
| Two Cents 1980 | 10,044,000 |
| Two Cents 1981 | 25,043,000 |
| Two Cents 1982 | 50,043,000 |
| Two Cents 1983 | 15,043,000 |
| Two Cents 1984 | 10,040,000 |
| Two Cents 1985 | 22,532,000 |
| Two Cents 1986 (mint sets only) | 28,000 |
| Two Cents 1987 | 36,278,000 |
| Two Cents 1988 (mint sets only) | 24,000 |
22 coins (1967 - 1988)
| Coin Name | Mintage |
|---|---|
| One Cent 1967 | 120,300,010 |
| One Cent 1968 (mint sets only) | 75,000 |
| One Cent 1969 (mint sets only) | 100,000 |
| One Cent 1970 | 10,080,010 |
| One Cent 1971 | 10,020,000 |
| One Cent 1972 | 10,063,045 |
| One Cent 1973 | 15,063,000 |
| One Cent 1974 | 35,043,000 |
| One Cent 1975 | 60,024,991 |
| One Cent 1976 | 20,011,000 |
| One Cent 1977 (mint sets only) | 32,000 |
| One Cent 1978 | 15,038,000 |
| One Cent 1979 | 35,041,000 |
| One Cent 1980 | 40,044,000 |
| One Cent 1981 | 10,043,000 |
| One Cent 1982 | 10,043,000 |
| One Cent 1983 | 40,043,000 |
| One Cent 1984 | 30,040,000 |
| One Cent 1985 | 40,032,000 |
| One Cent 1986 | 25,028,000 |
| One Cent 1987 | 27,528,000 |
| One Cent 1988 (mint sets only) | 24,000 |
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