| Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Discover New Zealand - Tūī |
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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 first in a three-coin series named Discover New Zealand, celebrating New Zealand’s natural wonders, and features the tūī bird.
NZ Post says about it:
The hero of this coin is a stunning photographic image of the tūī feeding from harakeke, New Zealand flax, with the background of the central image printed over a layer of white ink to highlight the bird in the foreground. This vivid image will be framed by the engraved high-relief 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. |
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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 depicts a tūī bird feeding from a flowering harakeke, New Zealand flax plant.
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 bird followed by its scientific name in Latin: TŪī - PROSTHEMADERA NOVAESEELANDIAE. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
ONE DOLLAR TŪī - PROSTHEMADERA NOVAESEELANDIAE |
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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: CU20KSPCN
Issue price: NZ$ 145.00
Note that NZ Post calls the coin the "2020 Discover New Zealand - Tui Silver Proof Coin", but it is dated 2021.
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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