| Coin | Silver Ounce 2017 Decimal Currency |
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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 one ounce of silver format (abbreviated as 1 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). 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.
This coin commemorates 50 years since the introduction of decimal currency in New Zealand.
NZ Post (the issuer of the coin) says about it:
On 10 July 1967, New Zealand abandoned pounds, shillings and pence in favour of decimal currency. The new system was quickly adopted by New Zealand and was generally easier to understand than the complex imperial system. Of course, this new currency meant that there also needed to be new coins. The designs that were finally settled on had been designed by New Zealander James Berry. His designs of a silver fern, kōwhai, tuatara, Māori carved head or kōruru, kiwi and HMS Endeavour were chosen from a wide selection of submissions, and his 10-cent and 50-cent coin designs remain in use today.
This commemorative coin incorporates all of the iconic New Zealand symbols that were used in James Berry’s original designs. Each of the key elements are dispersed around the edge of the coin and encompassed by delicate koru designs. |
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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 .999 Ag 1oz ELIZABETH II 2017.
The inscription indicates the precious metal content - ".999 Ag 1oz" means "one troy ounce of 99.9% silver"; Ag is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver. |
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, reverse of the coin has a large number 50 with the word YEARS vertically within the 0, surrounded by the inscription NEW ZEALAND DECIMAL CURRENCY around above, and the anniversary dates 1967 and 2017 below. Above the inscription, the face value $1 (one dollar).
Around the rim, the key elements from the reverse designs of the first New Zealand coins. Clockwise from top:
- a tuatara (lizard) from the 5 Cents design,
- kowhai flowers from the 2 Cents design,
- a koruru (Maori carved wood ornament in the form of a head) from the 10 Cents design,
- the Endeavour ship from the 50 Cents design,
- a kiwi bird from the 20 Cents design, and
- a fern leaf from the 1 Cent design.
The symbols are separated by small "koru" (Maori-style) decorations. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
$1 50 YEARS NEW ZEALAND DECIMAL CURRENCY 1967 2017 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof.
Issued in the annual proof set only.
The coins are issued by NZ Post, which is the official issuer of all commemorative stamps and coins for New Zealand. |
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