Information about effigy: Coat of Arms of New Zealand

The Coat of Arms of New Zealand (Māori: Te Tohu Pakanga o Aotearoa) is the heraldic symbol representing the South Pacific island country of New Zealand. Its design reflects New Zealand's history as a bi-cultural nation, with a European female figure on one side and a Māori rangatira (chief) on the other. The symbols on the central shield represent New Zealand's trade, agriculture and industry, and a Crown represents New Zealand's status as a constitutional monarchy.

The initial Coat of Arms was granted by warrant of King George V on 26 August 1911, and the current version was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. While the use of the coat of arms is restricted to the New Zealand Government, the symbol enjoys wide use on state decorations; it appears on the uniform of the police and is on the cover of the national passport. The Coat of Arms is not normally displayed on coins, which carry the portrait of the monarch on the obverse instead; however, it has been displayed on the reverse of some non-circulating coins of New Zealand, as well as on the obverse of its dependencies (such as Niue).

The coat of arms depicts a shield with four quadrants divided by a central "pale":
- The first quadrant depicts the four stars on the national flag, representing the constellation of the Southern Cross; the second quadrant depicts a golden fleece, representing the nation's farming industry; the third depicts a sheaf of wheat for agriculture; and the fourth quadrant depicts crossed hammers for mining.
- The pale depicts three ships, representing the importance of sea trade, and the immigrant nature of all New Zealanders.
- The dexter (right - on viewer's left) supporter is a European woman carrying the flag of New Zealand, while the sinister (left - on viewer's right) supporter is a Māori rangatira (chief) holding a taiaha (fighting weapon) and wearing a kaitaka (flax cloak).
The female figure is said to be a depiction of Zealandia, a common national personification of New Zealand during the first half of the 20th century. It also broadly represents all "non-indigenous citizens of the country". The shield is surmounted by a rendition of St. Edward's Crown, which has been used in the coronations of New Zealand's monarchs (these also being the monarchs of the United Kingdom). The Crown also represents New Zealand's historic ties to the United Kingdom.

Below is a scroll with NEW ZEALAND on it, behind which (constituting the "heraldic compartment" on which the supporters stand) are two fern branches, representing the native vegetation.

In the original 1911 design, the crest was a demi-lion (the upper half of a rampant lion) holding the Union Flag, and the scroll at the shield's base featured the then motto of the country, "Onward".

On large dollar, with ferns

New Zealand / One Dollar 1967

The Coat of Arms of New Zealand was displayed on the reverse (not the obverse) of a series of non-circulating large one dollar coins.