New Zealand one dollar coin
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand one dollar ($1) coin is a coin
of the New Zealand dollar
. The current circulating coin was introduced on 11 February 1991 to replace the existing $1 note, although there had previously been occasional issues of commemorative "silver dollars", but they are rarely seen in circulation.
The depiction of a kiwi
on the reverse
helps give the New Zealand dollar the colloquial name "Kiwi (dollar)", although the term was in use before the $1 coin was introduced.
making the note more expensive to produce, and notes had to be replaced regularly due to wear and tear. The $1 coins, and $2 coins, were first minted in 1990 but circulated in 1991. The $1 notes were withdrawn later that year.
The new $1 coin was made of aluminium bronze
, and was 23.0 mm in diameter, 2.74 mm thick, and 8.0 g in weight.. The edge of the coin consisted of eight sections, alternating between milling and plain sections. The reverse of the coin was designed by Robert Maurice Conly , and depicted two symbols of New Zealand: a kiwi facing left in the centre, surrounded by four fronds of the silver fern (Cyathea dealbata). Both the kiwi and the silver ferns sat above the legend reading the denomination "ONE DOLLAR". The obverse consisted of Raphael Maklouf
's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
, the Queen of New Zealand, with the legend reading "ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND [year of minting]".
In 1999, the obverse of all new $1 coins was changed with the addition of Ian Rank-Broadley
's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and the legend was rearranged to read "NEW ZEALAND ELIZABETH II [year of minting]".
In 2006 the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
replaced the 10c, 20c and 50c coins in circulation with smaller, lighter ones, and removed the 5c coin from circulation. The $1 remained the same as it was relatively new (the oldest $1 coins were only 14 years old), they circulated well, and the extra expense of adapting machines that only took $1 coins. Another reason for the change in size was that the 10c and $1 coin were very similar in size. Being only 0.62 mm different in diameter, and two 10c together were only 0.66 mm different from the $1 in thickness, it was possible with some parking meter
s to insert two 10c coins side-by-side and get $1 worth of parking time (naturally, this could also backfire and jam the meter.).
Coins of the New Zealand dollar
This article concerns the coins of the New Zealand dollar.- Pre-dollar :Prior to 10 July 1967, the New Zealand pound, using the £sd system, was the currency of New Zealand. Coins of the pound tend to follow the size, weight, and composition of their British counterparts...
of the New Zealand dollar
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
. The current circulating coin was introduced on 11 February 1991 to replace the existing $1 note, although there had previously been occasional issues of commemorative "silver dollars", but they are rarely seen in circulation.
The depiction of a kiwi
Kiwi
Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae.At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world...
on the reverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
helps give the New Zealand dollar the colloquial name "Kiwi (dollar)", although the term was in use before the $1 coin was introduced.
Current circulating coin (1991 - present)
The current coin replaced the New Zealand one dollar note in use since New Zealand's currency was decimalised on 10 July 1967. The reason for replacing the note was due to inflationInflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
making the note more expensive to produce, and notes had to be replaced regularly due to wear and tear. The $1 coins, and $2 coins, were first minted in 1990 but circulated in 1991. The $1 notes were withdrawn later that year.
The new $1 coin was made of aluminium bronze
Aluminium bronze
Aluminium bronze is a type of bronze in which aluminium is the main alloying metal added to copper, in contrast to standard bronze or brass...
, and was 23.0 mm in diameter, 2.74 mm thick, and 8.0 g in weight.. The edge of the coin consisted of eight sections, alternating between milling and plain sections. The reverse of the coin was designed by Robert Maurice Conly , and depicted two symbols of New Zealand: a kiwi facing left in the centre, surrounded by four fronds of the silver fern (Cyathea dealbata). Both the kiwi and the silver ferns sat above the legend reading the denomination "ONE DOLLAR". The obverse consisted of Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf is a sculptor, best known for designing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used on the coins of many Commonwealth nations....
's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, the Queen of New Zealand, with the legend reading "ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND [year of minting]".
In 1999, the obverse of all new $1 coins was changed with the addition of Ian Rank-Broadley
Ian Rank-Broadley
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS is a British sculptor who has produced many acclaimed works, among which are several designs for British coinage....
's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and the legend was rearranged to read "NEW ZEALAND ELIZABETH II [year of minting]".
In 2006 the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is the central bank of New Zealand and is constituted under the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989. The Governor of the Reserve Bank is responsible for New Zealand's currency and operating monetary policy. The Bank's current Governor is Dr. Alan Bollard...
replaced the 10c, 20c and 50c coins in circulation with smaller, lighter ones, and removed the 5c coin from circulation. The $1 remained the same as it was relatively new (the oldest $1 coins were only 14 years old), they circulated well, and the extra expense of adapting machines that only took $1 coins. Another reason for the change in size was that the 10c and $1 coin were very similar in size. Being only 0.62 mm different in diameter, and two 10c together were only 0.66 mm different from the $1 in thickness, it was possible with some parking meter
Parking meter
A parking meter is a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meters can be used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing their integrated on-street parking policy, usually related to their traffic and...
s to insert two 10c coins side-by-side and get $1 worth of parking time (naturally, this could also backfire and jam the meter.).
Mintages
| Year | Coins minted |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 40,000,000 |
| 1991 | 10,000,000 |
| 1992-99 | none |
| 2000 | 5,000,000 |
| 2001 | none |
| 2002 | 8,000,000 |
| 2003 | 4,000,000 |
| 2004 | 2,700,000 |
| 2005 | 2,000,000 |
| 2006-07 | none |
| 2008 | 11,000,000 |
| Total | 82,700,000 |
See also
- New Zealand dollarNew Zealand dollarThe New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
- Coins of the New Zealand dollarCoins of the New Zealand dollarThis article concerns the coins of the New Zealand dollar.- Pre-dollar :Prior to 10 July 1967, the New Zealand pound, using the £sd system, was the currency of New Zealand. Coins of the pound tend to follow the size, weight, and composition of their British counterparts...
- Australian one-dollar coin