2012 New Zealand $1 Hei Matau Pounamu Greenstone 1oz Silver Coin

You'll hold pounamu at the center

This 2012 $1 silver coin gives you a real piece of New Zealand on a 1 troy ounce proof strike in 99.9% pure fine silver. At the center sits hand-carved pounamu, also known as New Zealand greenstone, set in the shape of a Hei Matau. It's smooth, deep green, and cut to catch the light without losing its natural look.

The koru frame adds meaning

Look closer and you'll see a frosted Koru border worked around the inlay, with its spiral lines reading as new life, growth, and peace. The Hei Matau itself speaks to strength, safe travel over water, and respect for the sea. It's the kind of detail you'd want in hand, not just in a case, because the texture shift between polished silver and stone is part of the experience.

You get a low-mintage proof issue

The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, a familiar sight for collectors of legal tender coinage. With a global mintage capped at 2,000, this premium proof coin stays distinctly limited. It fits well in a New Zealand coin collection, or as a single piece you bring out when you want to show someone craftsmanship, culture, and silver all at once.