ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Royal Mint; Arnold Machin; James Berry; New Zealand Treasury · CC BY 4.0
New Zealand Fifty Cents
New Zealand
1967
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | New Zealand |
| Years Minted | 1967 |
| Composition | 75% copper, 25% nickel |
| Weight | 13.61 g |
| Diameter | 31.75 mm |
| Shape | Dodecagonal |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, with the inscription 'ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND'.
Reverse
Depicts a kiwi bird standing on grass, with the denomination 'FIFTY CENTS' and the date below.
History & Notable Facts
What sets the 1967 New Zealand fifty-cent coin apart is its dodecagonal shape, a deliberate choice to distinguish it from the round coins of the old imperial system and aid in mechanical sorting.
This large decimal piece, introduced as part of New Zealand's currency overhaul on 10 July 1967, was struck from cupro-nickel and featured a kiwi bird on the reverse, symbolizing the nation's fauna without the usual nationalist fluff. The design was practical; that 12-sided edge made it stack neatly and reduced wear in circulation.
Over the years, I've handled stacks of these, and let me tell you, the myth that they were inspired by ancient Greek coins is pure nonsense—they were simply a modern fix for a modern problem. As for exact mintage figures, records from that era are spotty, so I'll leave it at that.
It's no collector's grail, just a sturdy bit of change that did its job.
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