New Zealand Penguin

In 2020, New Zealand produced it's first ever legal tender bullion coin, the New Zealand Penguin. The New Zealand Penguin 1 Oz Silver Bullion Coin is inspired by one of Aotearoa's extinct animals. The first issue celebrates the recently discovered Chatham Island crested penguin, a unique species that existed on this remote archipelago until a few hundred years ago.

The Chatham Penguin coins contain one Troy ounce (31.103 g) of .999 pure Silver. It is legal tender with a denomination of $1 and the series will have limited mintages of 25,000 for each issue. The coins are a product of New Zealand mint and are minted with a proof-like finish. The white of part of the penguins have a frost-like finish providing a contrast to the mirrored surfaces and replicating the black and white coloring of the penguins.

Silver Bullion Mintages

Design

Obverse: The obverse displays the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley. Inscriptions encircling the rim include the name of the monarch “ELIZABETH II", the date "2020", the issuing country "NEW ZEALAND", and the purity/content/weight ".999 AG 1OZ”.

Reverse: The reverse features a pair of Chatham Island crested penguins (as imagined by New Zealand artist Dave Burke). They are depicted standing closely together on a rocky outcropping on the coastline. A rough, stormy sea is active in the background, extending to the low horizon. Completing the scene, arched behind the penguins, is displayed a series of flowing koru designs. Koru in the indigenous Maori language translates “loop or coil,” which has reference to a spiral shape as seen in nature in many forms, suggesting living movement. The inscriptions are located within the rimband encircling the image. “CHATHAM ISLAND CRESTED PENGUIN" is inscribed above the image while the denomination of "ONE DOLLAR” is located below it.