ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Auckland Museum Collections from Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
New Zealand Penny
New Zealand
1940–1965
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$0.12
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 9.42g
Updated 10:13 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | New Zealand |
| Years Minted | 1940–1965 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 9.42 g |
| Diameter | 30.8 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of the reigning British monarch, such as King George VI from 1940-1952 or Queen Elizabeth II from 1953-1965.
Reverse
Depicts a Maori chieftain holding a taiaha (traditional weapon).
History & Notable Facts
The New Zealand penny's reverse featured a Maori warrior holding a mere club, a design by George Kruger Gray that quietly celebrated indigenous culture amid colonial coinage.
That design choice set it apart from the standard British pennies it resembled in size and composition. Struck in bronze—typically 95.5% copper, 3% tin, and 1.5% zinc—these coins entered circulation during World War II and lasted until decimalization in 1967. They handled everyday transactions in a country still finding its post-war footing.
Mintage details are spotty for some years; records from the Royal Mint don't always specify exact numbers. What we know is that production ramped up in the 1950s as demand grew, but many ended up worn from constant use.
In truth, these pennies were just workhorses of the economy, not the rarities collectors chase today.
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