About the coin
The Anzac coin was launched in February 2015, by the then Governor-General of New Zealand, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO.
The coin was released into circulation as legal tender on 23 March 2015 and is able to circulate like any other coin.
It was the first time a coloured, circulating coin had been produced in New Zealand. 'circulating' means it could be used as legal tender as well as being desirable to coin collectors.
A limited, one-off run of one million Anzac coins were minted to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. This number represented the size of the New Zealand population in 1914, of which 10% served in World War I.
The coin was recognised as the Best New Circulating Coin of 2015 by the International Association of Currency Affairs.
Where to get the coin
The Anzac coin is no longer available for purchase. We did not distribute Anzac coins directly to the public.
The coin has the same specifications as the existing New Zealand 50 cent coin. Both the Anzac coin and the existing 50 cent coin (featuring the barque 'Endeavour') are legal tender. Testing ensured the Anzac coin will be accepted in coin and vending machines.
How the coin is made
The Anzac commemorative coin was minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, which also makes New Zealand’s regular 10, 20 and 50 cent coins.
The coin was coloured using a revolutionary, high-speed 'pad printing' process developed by the Royal Canadian Mint and its technology partner TECA. The technology produces coins with vibrant, photo-quality images, in multiple varieties and blends of colour, and with superior wear resistance.
The coin's high-quality design was made possible by an integrated system that uses special inks, robotics for speed and precision control, and advanced vision inspection for quality assurance.
The coin's design
The Anzac coin design features a New Zealand and Australian soldier standing back to back with their heads bowed in remembrance.
The mangopare (hammerhead shark) pattern symbolises strength and determination, and the silver fern reflects New Zealand's national identity.
On our behalf, New Zealand Post commissioned renowned New Zealand artist Dave Burke to design the coin as part of its wider five-year Anzac commemorative stamp and coin programme.
Dave Burke graduated from the Otago School of Fine Arts and has more than 20 years’ experience working in the fields of art, design and advertising.