New Zealand trials of the 1980s

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New Zealand trial $1 coin dated 1986.

From NumisBids:

New Zealand, Elizabeth II, Aluminium Bronze Trial Dollar, 1985, seven sided, struck at the Royal Australian Mint, crowned bust right, rev arms, R.A.M above, TEST on either side, 22mm, 7.51g (KM unlisted).

Image copyright of Baldwin's.

[<k>]

New Zealand trial $2 coin dated 1985.

From NumisBids:

New Zealand, Elizabeth II (1952- ), Aluminium Bronze Trial 2-Dollars, 1985, struck at the Royal Australian Mint, crowned bust right, rev arms, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT TESTING around below, 26mm, 8.76g (KM unlisted).

Image copyright of Baldwin's.

[<k>]

New Zealand, pattern 50 cents coin, 1986.

Image copyright of Baldwin's.

From NumisBids:

New Zealand, Elizabeth II, Cupro-nickel Pattern 50-Cents, 1986, struck at the Royal Mint, crowned bust right, rev HMS Endeavour, 13.54g (KM 63 for type, pattern unlisted), together with a currency piece for comparison. The Pattern with some light marks, otherwise mint state and very rare.

The Pattern differs from the currency coin, having no rigging to topsails and with water ripples below ENDEAVOUR.

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The issued 50 cents coin.

The standard reverse of the New Zealand 50 cents.

For the purposes of comparison with the pattern above.

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New Zealand, pattern 1 cent coin, 1982.

From NumisBids:

New Zealand, Elizabeth II, Bronze Pattern Cent, 1982, struck at the Royal Mint, diademed bust right, rev fern around 1, 2.1g (KM unlisted). The bust of the Queen is by James Berry.

Image copyright of Baldwin's.

See also:  "Queen of New Zealand" legend on New Zealand collector coins.

[Mister T]

Why was the 1c pattern struck?

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Why was the 1c pattern struck?

Probably they wanted to see how James Berry's portrait of the Queen would look on the regular coinage.

But it wasn't a great portrait.