Summary

One Dollar obverse trial, Issued by New Zealand, circa 1966
Minted by Royal Mint, Llantrisant, Wales

Obverse Description

Diademed and draped bust of the Queen facing right

Reverse Description

Plain

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

In 1959, a committee was set up to study and report on the introduction of decimal coinage in New Zealand and in 1963 it was announced that the change to a decimal system would take place.

In 1963 Robert Muldoon became Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance. He was responsibe for the introduction of decimal currency into New Zealand. This trial for a dollar, from his estate, is 36 mm diameter, a size rejected for the commemorative dollar of 1967, 39 mm. However it does feature Arnold Machin's bust of Elizabeth II which was adopted for all the new decimal denominations.

The Decimal Currency Act, 1964 prescribed the designs, diameters, and standard weights of the decimal coins, which first appeared in circulation on 10th July 1967.

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