A die used in striking New Zealand's 1964 Penny — the second to last year of pre-decimal copper coinage — has resurfaced following its successful acquisition by Aventine Coins & Bullion from the estate of one of Australia’s most prominent collectors.

This tool would have been used to strike the reverse design featuring the iconic Tūī bird perched on a Kōwhai tree.

Pre-decimal New Zealand coin dies are virtually unknown outside institutional collections and museums, as the Royal Mint destroyed them upon decommissioning.

In exceptional instances, it is believed that some high-level mint staff or government officials may have been granted the privilege of retaining a cancelled die for recognition of their services.

This example reportedly originated from an estate in London via AC&B in the 1980s and was sold privately.

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