The Māori bullion coin – a legend captured in pure investment silver

We just celebrated the addition of a new coin to our investment product portfolio – the Māori silver bullion coin.

The second investment coin manufactured and distributed under the Bulmint brand draws inspiration from the rich and fascinating culture of New Zealand’s indigenous people. But whose image adorns the reverse of this bullion product, and what is the meaning behind the markings on their faces? Find out which aspects of Māori culture we embodied in 999 fine silver.

Who are the Māori people?

The Māori are the indigenous population of New Zealand – a polynesian people who migrated to this territory around the 14th century. Their legends speak of a mythical land called Hawaiki from which they all hail, but they likely originate from an island or a group of islands in Polynesia in the South Pacific.

Different tribes have their own dialects and variations in their traditions, but the wider culture and language they all share are closely related to those of the other cultures in the triangle between Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island.

The Māori are known for the intricate geometric tattoos that cover the faces and some parts of the body of their men and even the women’s chins – a symbolic representation of their social status, tribal affiliation, and heritage. Their battle dances are equally recognisable – the aim of this custom was once to scare the enemy army, but in modern times it is used as an opening for sports matches.

Today the Māori have an unusually high standing in New Zealand society compared to the indigenous populations of other countries and their culture is undergoing a revival period. They have representatives in Parliament, their language has been an official language in New Zealand since 1987, and they continue to maintain their connection to the land despite the challenges of modern life.

The tragic love between Earth and Sky

The two central figures of the creation myth of the Māori people are Rangi, the Sky Father, and Papa, the Earth Mother. The Māori investment silver coin is inspired by and depicts these two deities.

Caught in a tight embrace, in the narrow space between them there was pure darkness – and in that darkness, the gods of all aspects of the natural world were born. The more they grew, the more they hungered for light, but in order to banish the darkness they had no choice but to separate their parents. With heavy hearts, Earth and Sky’s 70 children took it upon themselves to rend the two lovers apart.

One by one, they failed, until the god of the forest’s turn came – he stood between his parents and, despite their anguished cries, started pushing them away from one another. With one final heave, he rended them apart – and, finally, light shone upon the world between them. Since then, there has been an unsurmountable distance between the Sky and the Earth, but they yearn for each other to this very day – Rangi's tears sometimes fall in the form of dew drops, and there are days when Papa sighs and trembles towards her lover, as if she is still trying to reach him.

Māori tattoos – an expression of individuality and societal role

In the past, at a certain age young tribe members would undergo a rite of passage in the form of ritualistic tattooing. Each tattoo was unique to its bearer and presented an outward expression of the individual’s personal achievements, descent, and social status.

While this practice is widespread among Polynesian people, the tattoos of New Zealand’s indigenous population differ from the rest in both style and application technique. Unlike the modern methods of tattooing and even the traditional methods of their fellow Polynesians, the Māori first engrave the design deeper into the skin, scarring in the process, and the resulting tattoos combine ink with relief. The designs themselves are also clearly distinguishable – the spiral is one of the most popular elements, and outlines predominate over filled-in shapes.

Traditionally, men get full facial tattoos, and different areas of the face represent different symbolic meanings. They also decorate some parts of their bodies. In the past, Elder women would get tattoos on their chins, nostrils, and outlining their lips, but today one may encounter young ladies with such modifications.

Modern Māori also practice ritualistic tattooing, albeit with modern methods and equipment. The revival period their culture has been undergoing over the past few decades has once again brought this custom to the forefront.

Wood carving – a way of documenting a rich and vibrant folk tradition

The Māori have no writing system of their own – before their first contact with the West, they passed on their beliefs through a rich oral tradition and masterful craftwork. The style of the reverse motif of the Māori silver investment coin resembles the very woodcarving technique through which the members of this culture have been giving form to their myths and legends. Intricate wood carvings were – and still are – used to decorate the communal houses in which tribal meetings were held, traditional canoes, weapons, and household objects.

A legend embodied in pure investment silver

The Māori silver investment coin captures the tender moments before the tragic separation between the Earth Mother and Sky Father. Their faces are decorated with traditional tattoos, and the style of the relief illustration is based on their wood-carved artwork. The motif is struck to proof-like bullion quality out of 999 fine silver, with an all-matt texture, deep relief, and a high level of detail. The obverse bears the image of Charles III, the year of mintage – 2023, and the face value - 2 New Zealand dollars.

It came out mere weeks after the first ever investment coin, manufactured and distributed under the Bulmint brand – the 1 oz Silver Phoenix. Each of them is distinguished by a proof-like quality, achieved through a technology similar to that of proof quality – this elevates the aesthetic characteristics of the product above those of the typical investment coins on the market and combines the intrinsic value of the precious metal with a strikingly beautiful appearance. We have more bullion coins scheduled for release in the near future, each bearing this elegant finish and an artistic design imbued with symbolism. Until then, you may browse a full selection of our investment gold and silver products here on our website.