New Zealand Mint

History of the New Zealand Mint

The New Zealand Mint was founded more than 40 years ago and was one of the first mints to introduce a 999.9 purity standard for its gold bullion investment products. Today, the mint is New Zealand’s only precious metals mint and produces legal tender collectible coins as well as bullion bars and medallions. It is a private company with headquarters in Auckland.

Precious metals used in New Zealand Mint bullion products are sourced internationally and the mint’s products have a minimum fineness of 999.9 for gold and 999 for silver. The mint holds global prestige for its high-quality bullion products and intricate designs that are highly sought-after by investors and collectors alike.

Since the New Zealand Mint is not an official sovereign mint, it plays no role in producing paper banknotes or circulation coins for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand or national government. These are all produced overseas by the Royal Mint of London or Royal Canadian Mint.

Hawksbill/Taku Coin

The New Zealand Mint’s most popular coins are the Hawksbill or Taku coins. These feature the native sea turtle, known as the hawksbill turtle, which migrates each year from Fiji to the coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The hawksbill turtle once formed part of the staple diet of South Pacific nations populations but today is a protected species being saved from extinction. In Fiji, the hawksbill turtle is known by many populations as the Taku, which is why the coin features both names.

The Hawksbill/Taku coin was first released in 2010 under the name Silver Fiji Taku, being Fiji’s official bullion coin. They are considered legal tender in Fiji and feature an image of a taku with a stylized shell pattern swimming through the ocean. On the obverse is a Raphael Maklouf effigy of the late Queen Elizabeth II. In 2013, a new design was released for the obverse of the taku coin, featuring Fiji’s official coat of arms.

From 2014, production of the Silver Fiji Taku coin shifted due to political issues in the region. The coin was rebranded as the New Zealand Hawksbill coin and issued on behalf of the island nation of Niue. This self-governing South Pacific island country is in free association with New Zealand.

The coin’s reverse featuring the hawksbill turtle remained largely the same for the new Niue editions of the coins. The engraving of the words ‘Fiji Taku’ was replaced with the simple ‘Turtle’ on the face of the coins. The obverse went back to portraying Queen Elizabeth II, however with another depiction by Ian Rank-Broadley as opposed to the earlier Raphael Maklouf effigy.

Today, Niue Silver Hawksbill Turtle Coins are released in limited mintages and considered legal tender with a face value of $2 within Niue, although their value far surpasses that due to the silver content. From 2016, these coins were produced by Sunshine MInt.

New Zealand Mint Lunar Coins

In 2015, the New Zealand Mint released a gold and silver coin series of Lunar Coins. These are only available for the years 2015, Year of the Goat, and 2016, Year of the Monkey. Each of these coins is made from 999.9 pure gold and is legal tender in the island nation of Niue.

The 2015 Year of the Goat coin by New Zealand Mint features a herd of three goats at the top of a rocky outcrop. The background features a mirrored finish and frosted relief. On the reverse is the Chinese symbol for goat, as well as the coin’s weight and purity. The phrase ‘2015 Year of the Goat’ is engraved along the bottom of the coin.

The 2016 Year of the Monkey silver coin features a monkey’s face peeking around the side. In the middle are the engraved words ‘2016 Year of the Monkey’ with characteristics of those born in this year featured on the left rim: prosperity, happiness, intelligence.

The obverse of both coins features Ian Rank-Broadley’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II along with her title, the nation of issue, face value, and year.

The New Zealand Mint has continued to produce commemorative coins in the Lunar Series, with outstanding designs for each year's release. These include the 2022 Year of the Tiger and remarkable 2024 Year of the Dragon releases.

Other bullion products by New Zealand Mint

Besides the bullion coins produced on behalf of the island of Niue and Fiji, the New Zealand Mint releases a range of gold and silver bullion products and collectible coins. These include:

• Kiwi Bullion Coins: The Official New Zealand Kiwi coin series is made from 999.9 pure gold and features a design of the iconic flightless bird. On the obverse is an image of the Southern Cross with the word 'Aotearoa', the traditional Maori name for New Zealand. This series is available in gold and silver kiwi coins.
• Silver Fern Bullion Coin: One of the most iconic symbols of New Zealand is the fern, and the Silver Fern Bullion series is a medallion that proudly reflects New Zealand nature and history. The obverse of the coin features an image of a fern flanked by a Maori design and on the obverse is an image of New Zealand next to the Southern Cross.
• Collectible Coins: The New Zealand Mint is known for its fun collectible coin series that are a fan favorite. These high-demand coins feature designs from big brand names such as Star Wars, DC Comics, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Disney, and Harry Potter. As much-loved gold collectibles, these are the perfect gift and investment for any fan of numismatic artistry. Picture a gold investment coin with an image of Luke Skywalker or Superman and you get the idea.

Buy New Zealand Mint bullion products from StoneX Bullion

Crown your collection with a gold or silver bullion coin from the New Zealand Mint. At StoneX Bullion, we stock prized investment-grade precious metals from the most prestigious mints in the world. As a member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), we pride ourselves on good trading practices as well as competitive prices. Browse our range and find an investment that’s as enduring as it is valuable.