Two Dollars 2024 (proof only), Coin from New Zealand - detailed information

The obverse of the coin displays the bust of King Charles III, which depicts him bare-headed (uncrowned) and wearing a suit and tie, facing left.

Below the shoulder truncation in tiny letters, the artist's initials DT (for Dan Thorne).

Around the rim, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: CHARLES III NEW ZEALAND 2024.

The reverse features an eastern great egret (a type of white heron, Ardea alba modesta; in Maori: kotuku) below curved decorations. The bird is sacred to New Zealand's indigenous Māori people, and highly endangered within the country, only inhabiting the Okarito Lagoon on the South Island.

Kotuku or white heron have always been rare in New Zealand and are revered by both Māori and pakeha for its elegant white feathers. This graceful bird has long, slender legs and a long, thin S-shaped neck, which has a distinct kink when flying. Kotuku are specially adapted for wading in shallow, muddy waterways: it has long legs that are bare of feathers to well above the ankle joint and long spreading toes. In New Zealand it only breeds near Whataroa, South Westland, between September and January.

The value and denomination, TWO DOLLARS, is curved below the bird.

These coins were part of a release for collectors only, which was the first in New Zealand to feature the Commonwealth portrait of King Charles III by Dan Thorne.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand had announced earlier that the first circulating coins bearing that portrait would probably be in the 10 cents denomination, to be struck in 2025 and released into actual circulation maybe in 2027.