A small New Zealand coin can tell a surprisingly big story. The country’s former five-cent piece features the tuatara, a remarkable native reptile whose ancestry reaches back to the age of dinosaurs. Today, New Zealand 5 cent coin cufflinks give that everyday piece of currency a new role as a wearable reminder of Aotearoa.
Why is there a tuatara on the five-cent coin?
New Zealand introduced decimal currency on 10 July 1967, replacing pounds, shillings and pence with dollars and cents. Artist James Berry developed designs for the new coins, including a fern, a kōwhai flower, a kiwi and the tuatara. The tuatara was selected for the five-cent denomination, giving a distinctive New Zealand animal a place in people’s pockets.
The tuatara is not simply another lizard. It is the last surviving member of an ancient reptile order called Sphenodontia. Found only in New Zealand, this unusual animal has become an important part of the country’s natural heritage. The Department of Conservation’s tuatara guide explains why protecting its island habitats matters.
When did New Zealand stop using five-cent coins?
In 2006, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand modernised the country’s smaller coins. New, lighter ten-, twenty- and fifty-cent pieces appeared, while the five-cent coin was withdrawn. The old five-cent piece ceased to be legal tender on 1 November 2006. That means it is no longer accepted as ordinary payment, although the Reserve Bank says it will redeem older coins.
For anyone who grew up in New Zealand before that change, the familiar tuatara design may bring back memories of school lunches, pocket money and searching through loose change. The Reserve Bank’s account of the 1967 coin designs offers a fascinating look at how those images were chosen.
A Kiwi gift with a genuine connection
At World Coin Cufflinks, the New Zealand cufflinks use genuine five-cent coins featuring the tuatara. Rather than relying on a generic national symbol, they give the wearer a real object connected to New Zealand’s currency history.
They’re an appealing idea for someone with family in New Zealand, a former resident living abroad or a traveller who treasures a visit. They can also make an unexpected birthday, wedding or retirement gift: understated enough to wear with a shirt, but interesting enough to start a conversation.
Explore more coin gifts from around the world
Coin designs vary wonderfully between countries, often featuring local wildlife, landmarks and historic figures. If the tuatara has sparked your curiosity, browse the New Zealand coin cufflinks collection or explore more of the stories behind the world’s coins. Sometimes the most meaningful gift begins with a very small piece of history.