New Zealand Coinage Specifications
On 31st July 2006, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand introduced a new set of smaller and lighter coins to replace the existing 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces. The 5 cent piece was phased out of circulation, while recovery of the old coinage began.
Schedule of New Zealand general circulation coinage - after 31 July 2006
Ten cent coin
Alloy: plated steel
Diameter: 20.5mm
Weight: 3.30g
Design: A Maori carved mask or koruru with Maori rafter patterns.
Edge thickness: 1.58mm
Edge treatment: Unmilled
Twenty cent coin
Alloy: plated steel
Diameter: 21.75mm
Weight: 4.00g
Design: A Maori `pukaki' carving. The edging on this coin is distinctive and known as `Spanish flower'.
Edge thickness: 1.56mm
Edge treatment: Spanish flower (7 indents evenly spaced.)
Fifty cent coin
Alloy: plated steel
Diameter: 24.75mm
Weight: 5.00g
Design: The barque Endeavour, commanded by Captain Cook, sailing south, with Mount Taranaki in the distance.
Edge thickness: 1.70mm
Edge treatment: Unmilled
One dollar coin
Alloy: Aluminium-bronze
Diameter: 23 mm
Weight: 8.0g
Design: New Zealand's national bird, the Kiwi.
Edge thickness: 2.74mm
Edge treatment: Intermittent milling
Two dollar coin
Alloy: Aluminium-bronze
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Weight: 10.0g
Design: The kotuku (white heron) is one of New Zealand's rarest birds and is held in particularly high regard in Maori mythology.
Edge thickness: 2.70mm
Edge treatment: Grooved
Schedule of New Zealand general circulation coinage to 31 October 2006
Five cent coin
Alloy: Cupro-nickel
Diameter: 19.43mm
Weight: 2.83g
Design: The last surviving member of an otherwise extinct family of reptiles, the tuatara, native only to New Zealand, is shown sitting on a coastal rock.
Edge thickness: 1.24mm
Edge treatment: Fully milled
Ten cent coin
Alloy: Cupro-nickel
Diameter: 23.62mm
Weight: 5.66g
Design: A Maori carved mask or koruru with Maori rafter patterns.
Edge thickness: 1.70mm
Edge treatment: Fully milled
Twenty cent coin
Alloy: Cupro-nickel
Diameter: 28.58mm
Weight: 11.3g
Design: There are two designs in use. One features a representation of a well-known Maori "pukaki" carving. The other design in common usage features the kiwi.
Edge thickness: 2.22mm
Edge treatment: Fully milled
Fifty cent coin
Alloy: Cupro-nickel
Diameter: 31.73mm
Weight: 13.61g
Design: The barque Endeavour, commanded by Captain Cook, sailing south, with Mount Taranaki in the distance.
Edge thickness: 2.33mm
Edge treatment: Five equally spaced plain segments separated by milling.
One dollar coin
Alloy: Aluminium-bronze
Diameter: 23 mm
Weight: 8.0g
Design: New Zealand's national bird, the Kiwi.
Edge thickness: 2.74mm
Edge treatment: Intermittent milling
Two dollar coin
Alloy: Aluminium-bronze
Diameter: 26.5 mm
Weight: 10.0g
Design: The kotuku (white heron) is one of New Zealand's rarest birds and is held in particularly high regard in Maori mythology.
Edge thickness: 2.70mm
Edge treatment: Grooved
For more precise details concerning the above specifications on New Zealand coins please contact us at:
Currency & Building Services
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
P O Box 2498
2 The Terrace
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Freephone in NZ (0800) 426-467 (Option 1 or 2)
Phone +64 4 472-2029
Fax +64 4 471-0313
E-Mail collectors@rbnz.govt.nz
