Threepence 1957, Coin from New Zealand - detailed information

Laureate bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (the effigy by Mary Gillick known as the "First portrait"); the designer's initials, M.G., appear incuse on the base of the neck truncation. The monarch's legend QUEEN · ELIZABETH · THE · SECOND + runs continuously all around the bust.

Two carved patu (Maori weapons) crossed with lanyards or throngs attached; between their blades, the value and denomination 3d (abbreviation for "three pence"); above, NEW ZEALAND; below, the date 1957; the artist's initials KG (for [George] Kruger Gray) are below the centre of the crossed weapons.

Most coins (called "Type A" by John Bertrand's New Zealand Coin and Banknote Catalogue) have 87 dots around the rim; a variety discovered in 2013 ("Type B") has 86 dots. In 2014, the 87 dot (regular) coins were listed as the more expensive variety; subsequently the 86 dot variety is listed as expensive.