| Coins Of The New Zealand Dollar |
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HISTORY In 1967, coins were introduced for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. The 1 and 2 cent coins were minted in bronze, with the other denominations in cupro-nickel. The 5, 10 and 20 cents were the same size as the earlier, equivalent 6 pence, 1 shilling and 1 florin. Indeed, until 1970, the 10 cents coin bore the additional legend "One Shilling". The obverse designs of all the coins featured Arnold Machin 's portrait of Elizabeth II , with the legend ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND {Link without Title} . The reverse sides of coins introduced in 1967 did not follow the designs that were originally intended for them. Those Modern Art and Sculpture themed designs were leaked to a newspaper and met a very negative public reaction. The final releases were given more conservative designs in line with public expectations. In 1986, New Zealand adopted Raphael Maklouf 's new portrait of the Queen on all its coins. The 1 and 2 cent coins were last minted for circulation in 1987, with collector coins being made for 1988. The coins were demonetised on 1 May , 1990 . The lack of 1 and 2 cent coins meant that cash transactions were normally rounded to the nearest 5 cents (10 cents as of 2006), a process known as Swedish Rounding . Some larger retailers (notably one supermarket chain), in the interests of public relations, elected to round the total price down (so that $4.99 became $4.95 instead of $5.00). Alternatively, many retailers rounded all their prices to the nearest 5 cents to avoid the issue entirely — so a New Zealand shopper often encountered products for sale at prices like $4.95. In 1990, aluminium-bronze 1 and 2 dollar coins were introduced. In 1999, Ian Rank-Broadley 's portrait of the Queen was introduced and the legend rearranged to read NEW ZEALAND ELIZABETH II {Link without Title} . On 11 November , 2004 , the Reserve Bank announced that it proposed to take the 5¢ coin out of circulation and to make the existing 50, 20 and 10 cent coins smaller and use plated steel to make them lighter. The reasons given were: #The 5¢ coin is now worth a third what a cent was worth back in 1967, when New Zealand Decimalised its currency. #Surveys had found that 50, 20 and 10 cent coins were too large and could not be easily carried in large quantities. The original 50c coin, with a diameter of 3.2 centimetres, was one of the largest coins in circulation worldwide. #The size of the 10¢ piece was too close to that of the dollar - so close, in fact, that it has been possible on occasion to put two 10c pieces in a parking meter together and receive a dollar's worth of parking time. (Naturally, this can also backfire and jam the meter.) #The prices of copper and nickel used to mint the old coins were high and rising steeply. After a three-month public submission period that ended on 4 February 2005 , the Reserve Bank announced on 31 March it would go ahead with the proposed changes. The changeover period started on 31 July 2006 , with the old coins usable up until 31 October 2006 . The older 50, 20, 10 and 5 cent pieces are now no longer legal tender, but are still redeemable at the Reserve Bank. In August 2005, the Royal Canadian Mint , who has minted Canadian coins in plated steel in the past, was selected by the Reserve Bank to make the new coins. The new coins have a unique electromagnetic signature which enables modern vending machines to determine coin counterfeiting and foreign coins {Link without Title} . It was estimated the changeover would remove nearly five million dollars of foreign coinage from circulation. CURRENT COINAGE As of 1 November 2006 , there are five denominations of coins in regular circulation: 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, and $2. Specifications Obverse With the exception of pre-1999 one-dollar and two-dollar coins, all current legal tender coins have Ian Rank-Broadley 's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II , with the legend around the outside reading NEW ZEALAND ELIZABETH II of minting . Pre-1999 $1 and $2 coins have Raphael Maklouf 's portrait of the Queen, and the legend reads ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND of minting . Reverse PAST COINAGE Changes to coinage in 1990 and 2006 has resulted in several demonetised coins. Coins have been demonitised for various reasons. This is a list of demonitised coins: OTHER COINS
LIMITS ON COINS ALLOWED TO BE USED According to the Reserve Bank Act 1989, there are limits on the amount that can be paid for by coins: The Act governing currency issue in New Zealand .
USE OF OTHER COUNTRIES' COINS Due to regional travel and the fact that many other former British colonies around the world use coinage systems with British-derived origins of sizing and weight, many Fijian , Samoan , Singaporean and especially Australian Coins had been in daily circulation in New Zealand despite not being official legal tender. It is of note that the United Kingdom itself does not use these sizes of coins any more, and there has been the odd case of foreign coins appearing in a customer's change. The consistently similar but not significantly higher value of the Australian currency and the obverse side of Australian coins being almost the same as New Zealand coins also didn't discourage this practice, with millions of 5, 10, and 20 cent Australian coins having been used in New Zealand in an identical manner to their true counterparts. The coinage size and material changeover (see below) of 31 July to 31 October 2006 means these foreign coins can no longer be accepted interchangeably, though the new 10 cent coin strongly resembles the British One Penny Coin in size, weight and appearance and the unchanged one dollar coin remains very similar to the Fijian counterpart. SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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