| Coin | One Dollar 1970 Cook Islands |
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When decimal currency was introduced in New Zealand on 10 July 1967, there was no new circulating denomination with the size and specifications of the old one crown piece, in which only commemorative coins had been issued; the new (large) fifty cents were equivalent in value but not in size. New Zealand issued crown-sized commemoratives with the specifications of the old crown, based on the British pre-decimal Crown. Until the introduction of the smaller circulating dollar coin in 1990, these coins had a one dollar denomination; later issues were denominated as five dollars.
These coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation.
In 1970 there were two commemoratives. This one represents the discovery of the Cook Islands. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned and draped young bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Second Portrait", by Arnold Machin).
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 Rank-Broadley and the Gottwald portraits.
Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND 1970.
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| Reverse | |
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Sailing ship (HMS Endeavour); to the right, the bust of Captain James Cook; below the bust, the inscription James Cook. Around above, COOK ISLANDS; around below, the denomination ONE DOLLAR.
In small letters inside the sea line to the right, the designer's initials JB (for [Reginald George] James Berry). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
COOK ISLANDS ONE DOLLAR |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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