1914 For King and Empire Gold Proof Coin

As part of the First World War five year programme, New Zealand Post will issue legal tender commemorative coins. This highly collectable and intricately designed gold proof coin highlights not only the plight of those who left for the war, but those who were left behind.

Highlights

• Minted from 0.9999 gold
• Extremely limited worldwide mintage of 500
• Coin comes in a pressed metal tin, made to resemble those gifted to soldiers in World War I by HRH Princess Mary at Christmas
• The coin shows a soldier bidding his wife farewell as he leaves for war
• The background shows soldiers in front of the pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt
  Collectable coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the commencement of World War I.

Design

This ¼ oz gold proof coin portrays the beginning of New Zealand’s involvement overseas during the First World War, and shows the difficulty of families being separated by war. This coin shows a husband and wife in the foreground, as he is off on the great adventure to fight for King and Empire while his wife sadly, but proudly, sees him off. In the background the soldiers stand in front of the pyramids and the Sphinx of Egypt, which is where the first troops of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force had arrived for training. Palm fronds border the image, representing New Zealand’s first task in the war – capturing Samoa from the Germans.