An Introduction To New Zealand Decimal Coins 1967 - 2020

No I can assure you its the truth, I buy some rolls every few months and do a search, inevitably a new coin or 3 shows up.

All of our coins are minted overseas and given the impact of Covid and a hysteria over cash money spreading disease, along with the worthlessness of our coins - are reasons why they are not rushing out new ones.

Seriously even government warnings, could not stop stores putting up signs during lockdown saying "We don't accept cash, credit or debit card only" and now some stores still won't accept coins saying they are a hassle. It's illegal but what can you do, call a cop to arrest someone for not accepting a few $ of coins. Our Police are so incompetent anyway, they could not even catch their breath.

Polymer notes and steel coins are much more durable than older ones and hence why there is oversupply. The 2020 10 cents was a chance find in change.

Catch and (eventually) release examples can still be fun to find.

Happy 55th birthday Decimal coins of NEW ZEALAND!!!


A decimal dollar coin, one of 300,000 released in this case!

Today 55 years ago, Decimal currency was introduced in New Zealand. July 10 1967. Having watched the successful introduction of decimal currency in South Africa in 1961 and then our neighbours the previous year, we were ready and it went seamlessly.




A set of 1967 coins for circulation, 1967 saw the biggest issue of all the coins until the late 1980s.

The decision to go decimal dates back to 1963 and in that year Finance minister Harry Lake devised a gradual system in which the old currency was withdrawn and the new one introduced.

The first step was to start a design competition for the new coins and then start withdrawing the Halfcrown and Halfpenny as both coins had no place in the new system. The former was withdrawn in May 1965 (1965 dated coins were set pieces only, no actual circulation coins were dated after 1963 and none were issued dated 1964). The halfpenny would be harder and was kept on to decimal day.


Stamps also got in on the act, these stamps are decimalised versions of a 1960 set in sterling currency.

In mid 1965 Public education campaigns began and "Mr Dollar" was released as a publicity device. People working in retail and banks were given training in the new currency. Local magazines and TV taught the general public


2 stamp covers, one shows Mr Dollar.

It was not all peaches and cream as the original coin designs shown in early 1966 was very unpopular (By Maurice Sherlock) and fresh designs were called for, designed by James Berry.

Coins were minted at Royal Mint in the UK at the new Llantrisant facility between late 1965 and mid 1967, all were dated in 1967.

NumisRob, you may have seen that stamp advertised as part of a presentation pack issued in 1971 that had the 1970 definitives that included the ½c and 2½c moth stamps. That set was not replaced until 1975 and that pack may have remained on sale until the 1980s. So possibly the only way you could have got that ½c stamp was through that pack, although I am sure some post offices would have sold you a pair of the stamps for 1c. The 2½ cents would have been collectible as most of them were overprinted in 1971 for 4c, the most commonly used rate (1st class sealed surface).

They were issued in 1967 and 1970 when 2nd class postage was established at 2½cents. The original intention was for a Half Cent coin made out of aluminium - but this was scrapped when it was decided it was too expensive and a hassle.

The 2½c postage rate was 2nd class (Unsealed, local surface mail) and was increased in late 1970 to 3cents. It was not used much and 3c was the basic sealed surface rate with 4c being the inland airmail rate. These rates were in line with the 1965 postage rate increase from 2½d to 3d and the other rates were 4d and 5d.

So this meant with decimal currency, the 3d rate was the same at 2½c in new currency and the 4d and 5d rates to 3c and 4c were slight decreases. The same happened in Australia in 1966, when the 5d local rate became 4c, although it quickly went to 5c in late 1967. The 2½c, 3c and 4c were the same colours and designs as the old 3d, 4d and 5d stamps of the 1960 set.

In late 1970 these rates climbed to 3c, 4c and 5c and the need for a 2½c stamp was gone. Between 1967 and 1970, you had to buy 2½c in pairs for 5c, a booklet or buy 2 x ½c stamps for 1c.

A 7½c stamp was also issued in 1967 and 1970 as this was the rate for registered local mail (2½c postage + 5c registration fee) again, you would have to buy 2 of these stamps for 15c or get 1 with a ½c stamp as change.

Finally in 1978 they did away with the 2nd class unsealed rate and in 1982 did away with surface mail rates, so that the one local rate was internal airmail.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Princetane for the explanation!

I tried to buy as many of the then-current definitive stamps as I could afford with my pocket money on that trip in 1974. I used to be quite thorough with keeping up with NZ stamps, but after the turn of the Millennium they started getting very silly with lots of huge sets, high values and even a 3-D stamp in a plastic cube that was totally unsuitable for postage, and I gave up, although I have made occasional additions to my collection on subsequent visits to NZ!

That's not just a criticism of the NZ postal service - Royal Mail in the UK has been even worse! And at least there are far fewer circulating commemoratives in NZ and no A-Z coins... yet!

Stamps got silly here in Australia too. I stopped collecting them about 3 years ago.

Hey Pincetane, are all $5 coins in proof sets 92% silver or thereabouts ?
Like the 1992 proof set ?

Looks like they are... thanks coaster.