Chatham Island Crested Penguin Bullion Coin - Bullion

In 2019, an international team of researchers extracted mitochondrial DNA from subfossil bones discovered in sand dunes on the Chatham Islands. This research confirmed that until a few centuries ago a unique crested penguin species, Eudyptes warhami, existed on the Chatham Islands.

Undisturbed for millennia, the Chatham Islands were once teeming with wildlife. Although some species have been lost since human habitation, thankfully many endangered species have been revitalised in recent years due to conservation efforts.

This detailed silver premium bullion coin was designed by New Zealand artist Dave Burke. Two Chatham Island crested penguins are imagined here with a stormy backdrop familiar to inhabitants of the Chatham Islands. The birds are encircled by an arc of koru designs. The coin was also issued in a colour-printed 1oz format as part of the 2020 New Zealand Proof Currency Set, and as a 2oz stand-alone coin.