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.

Coins issued in 1978 circulated for 28 years before they were demonetised on 1 November 2006.

Diademed and draped bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (effigy known as the "Second portrait", by Arnold Machin); around, the monarch's legend ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND; below, the date 1978.

The last surviving member of an otherwise extinct family of reptiles, the tuatara (a lizard-like reptile), native only to New Zealand, is shown sitting on a coastal rock. Above in the background, a gull flying. Below, the denomination 5 [cents]. The designer's initials, JB (for [Reginald George] James Berry) are to the left of the lizard's tail.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand reports regular mintage of 20,000,000. Krause catalogues list 20,023,000 circulation coins and 15,000 proofs. Judging by other years' patterns though, that's most probably 20,000,000 circulation coins, 23,000 in sets and 15,000 proofs.

Krause lists proofs as issued by the Perth Mint, but the mint sets themselves state that they were struck by the Royal Canadian Mint.