| Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Discover New Zealand - Kōwhai |
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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 is the third in a three-coin series named Discover New Zealand, celebrating New Zealand’s natural wonders, and features the kōwhai.
NZ Post says about it:
The kōwhai is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most cherished trees, its vibrant yellow blooms and the birds that flock to them welcome signs of spring. Some species are semi-deciduous, and their golden bounties of flowers appear before rows of small round leaves join them. The distinctive kōwhai flower is an icon that has featured on postage stamps and coins several times, including New Zealand’s former two-cent coin. |
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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 2021.
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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The reverse of the coin is coloured and features a vibrant illustration of kōwhai flowers.
Below, a decoration in traditional Māori style, uniting the coins in the series: a specially designed kaitiaki (guardian). The kaitiaki not only acts as a unifying feature that acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua (the people of the land), but is a minder or caregiver, protecting the taonga (treasure) encapsulated by the coin.
Around above, the face value ONE DOLLAR. Around below, the name of the tree: KŌWHAI. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
ONE DOLLAR KŌWHAI |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: in presentation box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
NZ Post SKU: CU21DSPCN
Issue price: NZ$ 159.00
207 of the 1,000 coins were issued in a three-coin set, each coin in the set with its separate numbered certificate. |
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