1916 Courage & Commitment Gold Proof Coin

As part of the First World War five year programme, New Zealand Post will issue legal tender commemorative coins. These highly collectable and intricately designed silver proof and gold proof coins highlight New Zealanders roles in the war in 1916. This stunning gold proof coin features the celebrated New Zealand Tunnelling Company in the Arras Tunnels.

Highlights

• Minted from 0.9999 gold
• Very 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 tells the story of the Arras Tunnels and the New Zealand Tunnelling Company (NZTC), who were the first New Zealanders on the Western Front, creating a vast underground network providing access to the front line​​
• Depicted on the coin are two members of the NZTC tunnelling at Arras.
• Collectable coin commemorating New Zealand's involvement in the First World War in 1916.

Design

This coin tells the story of the NZTC and the Arras tunnels. These hard-working men were the first New Zealanders on the Western Front, on 9 March 1916. Digging largely with pickaxes, they created a vast underground network providing access to the front line. After successfully countermining at Vimy Ridge, the NZTC began work beneath French town Arras in November.

Over five months the New Zealanders slowly but surely linked and greatly extended two medieval mines. To orient themselves from north to south, they named key locations Russell, Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin and Bluff. Eventually, the tunnels would house upwards of 20,000 men.

Check out the full range of gold coins here.