Text "C of N" on a postal numismatic cover surrounded by coins and tokens. See "About" page for list.

Coin of Note

Knowledge, one coin at a time.

Saint Eligius, pray for us

Inverted anchor cross. A cross with slightly widened ends, with two anchor flukes coming out of the top and curving left and right, also with slightly widened ends.







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A Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), denomination. The Tuatara is an endangered, lizard-like reptile endemic to New Zealand. Script: Latin Lettering: 5 JB Designer: George James Berry

1987 New Zealand 5 Cents

A coin featuring a living dinosaur

Third crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the King George IV State Diadem, legend around, date below. Script: Latin Lettering: ELIZABETH II NEW ZEALAND RDM 1990 Designer: Raphael David Maklouf Read more on Wikipedia

The obverse of the coin, like all New Zealand coins from 1986 – 1998 features the 3rd portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Raphael David Maklouf. Australia used the same portrait from 1985 – 1988.

A Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), denomination. The Tuatara is an endangered, lizard-like reptile endemic to New Zealand. Script: Latin Lettering: 5 JB Designer: George James Berry Read more on Wikipedia

The reverse features the tuatara, a fascinating creature from the time of the dinosaurs. Tuatara are New Zealand’s largest reptile. Adult males are about 0.5 metres in length, and weigh up to 1.5 kg when fully grown. The colour of tuatara ranges from olive-green, to brown, to orange-red. They can also change colour over their lifetime. They shed their skin once per year.

Although it looks like a lizard, it really is quite different. Found in New Zealand only, the tuatara’s closest relatives are an extinct group of reptiles from around the time of the dinosaurs. Their most curious body part is a “third eye” on the top of the head. The “eye” has a retina, lens, and nerve endings, yet it is not used for seeing. It is visible under young tuataras’ skin but becomes covered with scales and pigment in a few months, making it hard to see. The unique eye is sensitive to light and may help the tuatara judge the time of day or season.

Unlike all other living toothed reptiles, the tuatara’s two rows of top teeth, overlapping one lower row, are fused to the jaw bone.

A fascinating and unique animal. Thanks New Zealand!

A Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), denomination. The Tuatara is an endangered, lizard-like reptile endemic to New Zealand. Script: Latin Lettering: 5 JB Designer: George James Berry

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