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ANZAC commemorative coin

The Anzac 100-year commemorative coin is a coloured circulating coin that honours the spirit of Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) forged on the shores of Gallipoli during the Great War of 1914–18.

Published:

28 February 2022

Updated:

20 December 2024

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 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.

The coin was recognised as the Best New Circulating Coin of 2015 by the International Association of Currency Affairs.

Specifications

Diameter: 24.75mm
Alloy: Plated steel
Edge thickness: 1.70mm
Edge treatment: Unmilled
Weight: 5.00g

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.

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.

Video 1m:21s

Great endeavors in history require determination, strength and sacrifice.

To mark Anzac service and the Battle of Gallipoli, New Zealand is releasing one million coloured circulation coins, a first in the nation's history, and New Zealand turned to the Royal Canadian Mint to produce them.

This marks the Mint's first time use of high-speed colour pad printing, a technology capable of producing durable, multi-coloured coins.

The superiority of the proprietary colour pad printing process is the result of investments in research and development.

After the coins are struck, a photo sensor puts all the coins facing up in preparation for the colouring phase.

A camera detects the coin position while it’s still on the belt.

A robotic arm then picks up each of the coins and aligns them on a three coin tray.

Up to five colours can be combined on a coin surface to create vivid images.

The coins are quality inspected using a series of visual, automated checks.

In the final step, the ink is cured and coins pass through a furnace.

The end product is a unique, memorable coin depicting a New Zealand soldier and an Australian soldier back to back with their heads bowed in remembrance.>

With the design signifying strength, pride and determination, the 50 cent circulation coin commemorating the ANZAC is a source of collective pride in New Zealand.