An Introduction To New Zealand Decimal Coins 1967 - 2020

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.

Thanks Princetane , much appreciated, my collection thus still grows.

Seems the NZ part of this forum is pretty much dead since Princetane disappeared.

Such a shame.

His enthusiasium and knowledge is sorely missed.

That is a relief to hear. I miss his knowledge and storytelling.