King Charles III A New Zealand effigy for coronation coins

New Zealand’s own coins have always featured portraits of the reigning monarchs, beginning with King George V in 1933 when New Zealand coinage was first introduced to replace British currency.

Charles III will be the first king to appear on New Zealand’s decimal currency. As is tradition, the King’s portrait faces in the opposite direction to that of his predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II.

Wellington designer and illustrator Stephen Fuller developed the effigy to be used on New Zealand commemorative coins, and it was personally approved by the King.

Minted in 0.999 silver and 0.9999 gold, six coins will be issued to commemorate the King’s coronation, including an 11mm gold coin weighing .5g and a 1oz silver coin.

The King Charles III commemorative coins will be issued in the lead-up to the coronation on Saturday 6 May. Taking place in Westminster Abbey, London, where all but two British monarchs have been crowned in the past 900 years, the King and

Queen Consort will be crowned in a resplendent formal ceremony that will be broadcast worldwide. The last coronation of a British monarch took place on 2 June 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II dedicated herself to lifelong service to the Commonwealth.

At the time of the Queen’s death in September last year, the Reserve Bank noted, “There is no immediate impact on New Zealand’s banknote and coins designs and cash use as a result of a change in Sovereign. All existing coins and $20 banknotes in circulation featuring Queen Elizabeth II remain legal tender. It will be several years before we need to introduce coins featuring King Charles III, and longer until stocks of $20 notes are exhausted.” No decision has been made on the effigy to be used on circulating coins.

Stamps will also be issued to commemorate the King’s accession and coronation. Find out more at collectables.nzpost.co.nz.