Video: How The Armistice Day Commemorative Coin Is Made

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers on the 11th November 1918.

The Royal Canadian Mint and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand have collaborated to create a new coloured coin to commemorate this historic event. This is the second coloured coin ever produced for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

The first marked the anniversary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli during World War 1 and was recognised as Best New Circulating Coin by the International Association of Currency Affairs.

The Royal Canadian Mint produced this Armistice Day commemorative coin through its industry leading processes for coloured coin production. Once the coins are struck a photo sensor places all coins on the plane in preparation for the colouring phase. A robotic arm then picks up the coins and aligns them on a three coin tray. Paint is then applied through high speed pad printing and all coins pass quality inspections.

The reverse of the Armistice Commemoration Coin features three colours: red, green and white. The red poppy at the centre of the design is a symbol of remembrance and hope. It is also the emblem of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association whose mandate it is to remember and care for all those impacted by service for New Zealand on military operations. The poppy is surrounded by free-formed remembrance wreath that incorporates the silver fern and koru as iconic New Zealand elements. The printed silver ferns on the wreath represent the past, present and future as well as the three armed forces in New Zealand. The engraved koru represents new beginnings with the engraved fern representing New Zealand's national identity.