| Coin | Gold Ounce 2022 Matariki |
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New Zealand uses the New Zealand Dollar as its circulation currency for daily transactions. The country also issues a number of commemorative and collector coins, including in the internationally popular gold one-ounce format (abbreviated as 1 oz Au, where "Au" comes from the Latin word for gold, Aurum). Authorised by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the official issuer of these coins is NZ Post - which also issues the country's postal stamps. Manufacturing of the coins is commissioned to various foreign mints.
The coins are "Non-Circulating Legal Tender" (NCLT) and not bullion because they are issued at prices much higher than their intrinsic value and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic or sentimental value, and not at bullion investors.
Matariki, the Māori New Year, is celebrated annually across Aotearoa New Zealand when, in mid-winter, the Matariki star cluster rises. This signals the time of year for us all to remember those loved ones who have gone before us. It leads the way to te waka o Tamarereti, where those who have died in the past year have gathered to begin their voyage to the gathering of those who lived before them, known as te kahui o nga kahurangi.
As souls depart for their next lives, Matariki greets the rising sun - bringing, in all its glory, the promise of a new year and signalling a time to plan for the future and grasp new opportunities. |
| Mint | B. H. Mayer |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
150
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: NEW ZEALAND .9999 Au 1oz ELIZABETH II 2022.
The inscription also indicates the precious metal content - ".9999 Au 1oz" means "one troy ounce of 99.99% gold"; Au is abbreviated from Aurum, the Latin word for gold. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin depicts the Matariki origin story. Matariki is an abbreviation of Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea (The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea). In the creation story, the children of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother) wished to separate their parents so that light could come into the world. The only brother who did not agree to this was Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind and storms. It is said that Tāwhirimātea was so angry with his siblings for separating his parents that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
Around above, the face value TEN DOLLARS followed by KOTAHI TĀRA.
Around below, MATARIKI. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
TEN DOLLARS KOTAHI TĀRA MATARIKI |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: in display box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
NZ Post SKU: CU22JGPCN
Issue price: NZ$ 4,449.00 |
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| See also |
Coins featuring Māori legends include:
- 5 oz Gold, Taniwha, 2017
- 1 oz Gold, Taniwha, 2017
- 1 oz Silver, Taniwha, 2017
- 1/2 oz Gold, Māui, 2018
- 1/2 oz Silver, Māui, 2018
- 1/2 oz Gold, Māui - The Fish, 2018
- 1/2 oz Silver, Māui - The Fish, 2018
- 1/4 oz Gold, Tangaroa - Guardian of the Ocean, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Tangaroa - Guardian of the Ocean, 2021
- 1/4 oz Gold, Tangaroa - Whale, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Tangaroa - Whale, 2021
- 1 oz Gold, Matariki, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, Matariki, 2022
- 1 oz Gold, Rūaumoko - Guardian of Volcanoes, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, Rūaumoko - Guardian of Volcanoes, 2023
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