Māori 1 oz Silver Coin 2023

Inspired by the rich culture of the indigenous population of New Zealand, we created a new bullion coin - “Māori”, minted out of 31.1 g (1 oz) of 999 fine silver in a diameter of 38.6 mm, struck toproof-like investment quality that gives it a particularly elegant look.

The two figures depicted on the reverse are Rangi and Papa – the Sky Father and Earth Mother from which the universe was born, according to Māori beliefs. Their creation myth tells the story of the deep but doomed love between Earth and Sky. Held in each other’s tight embrace, the space between them was home to pitch-black darkness, where lived their 70 children – the gods of the forest, the sea, the winds, and all the forces of nature. The more they grew, the more they hungered for light, until one day with a heavy heart, they decided to rend their parents apart. Each tried their mightiest – to no avail. Then came the god of the forest’s turn – despite Rangi and Papa’s anguished cries, he stood firmly between them and began pushing at them, until finally, he managed to rend the Sky Father and the Earth Mother apart, letting the light flood between them and freely shine upon the world. To this day, Rangi and Papa yearn for each other, separated forever but still deeply in love.

Here, the Sky Father and the Earth Mother are depicted before their tragic separation. Their faces are adorned with the traditional tattoos Māori people are marked with as a rite of passage – men on their faces and some parts of the body, and women on their chins. The design is based on the typical Māori woodcarving style through which this culture has been expressing its legends and beliefs for centuries – and the texture of the wood has been recreated with an all-matt finish. 

The effigy of King Charles III sits on the obverse, depicted through glossy relief on a matt background, alongside the year of issue – 2023, the territory on which it is official legal tender – Niue, and the face value – 2 New Zealand dollars. This year’s mintage is limited to 100 000 pieces.

One of this silver investment coin’s most interesting features is its proof-like quality – an elegant finish achieved through a technology akin to the technology required for proof quality. The end result is a clear distinction between the matte and gloss elements that is atypical of bullion products and translates the intrinsic value of gold into a coin with artistic merit.

Metal Fine Silver
Weight 31.1 g
Purity Fine Silver 999
Quality Bullion
Circulation 100 000 pcs.
Diameter 38.60 mm
Legal tender NZD 2
Manufacturer Bulmint
Packaging Protective capsule