The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has unveiled (August 1) a new coin paying homage to the humble honey bee, or Apis mellifera. The honey bee is an integral part of our lives, providing honey while pollinating flowers and plants that provide the human race with needed sustenance. The life and hierarchy of the honey bee is complicated, with an organized society of three adult castes comprising of the queen, workers, and drones, each with a specific purpose and function.
Queens, who are responsible for producing and laying eggs, live for an average of two-to-three years and sometimes longer. Just one queen can lay thousands of eggs throughout her life.
Worker honey bees comprise the largest number of individuals; between 20,000 to 80,000 workers may live in any hive. They have a life span of only six weeks during the honey production season, when they store nectar, feed larvae, and produce copious amounts of honey.
The life of a drone or a male honey bee isn’t as fortunate as his counterparts, since they begin life as an unfertilized egg laid by the queen. His primary purpose is simple: to mate with the queen; their life span focuses specifically on this single task. If a mature drone successfully mates with a queen, his life ends soon after the mating flight. If he is unsuccessful, he will be ejected from the hive at the end of the active summer season and eventually die of cold or starvation.
New Zealand has been recognized as one of the most advanced beekeeping countries in the world. Beekeeping was first introduced to Northland in 1839 as a home craft, but it has developed into a progressive and valuable industry. Today, the busy honey bee pollinates roughly one-third of everything we eat, making it essential to agriculture.
In addition to pollinating fruit and vegetable crops, the honey bee produces several varieties of New Zealand honey. From the delicate pöhutukawa through to the stronger flavored kämahi and rewarewa, and the robust jellied mänuka honey, these variations are endless and exclusive to New Zealand.
The natural antibiotic qualities of some mänuka honeys has also led to an international market for health care products. Last year alone, New Zealand exported nearly NZ $300 million worth of local honey. Sadly, honey bees worldwide are under threat as a result of serious pests and diseases, in particular the Varroa mite in New Zealand. This collectible legal tender commemorative coin aims to raise awareness of the crucial role the honey bee plays in food production.
The six-sided coin is produced by the BH Mayer’s Mint GmbH on behalf of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and is designed by Hannah Stancliffe-White. The reverse design incorporates the hexagonal shape as part of the overall motif based on a cell of honeycomb in a hive. In the honey-making process, worker bees build a honeycomb structure of cells where nectar and pollen are stored, and larvae develop. The honey bee is brought to life on the coin with three-dimensional engraving and color printing. It is depicted sitting on the honeycomb, which has been partially filled with translucent amber-colored resin, replicating real honey.
The obverse includes the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which is the work of by Ian Rank-Broadley. The year of issue is also shown on the obverse.
| Denomination | Metal | Weight | Dimensions | Quality | Mintage |
| 1 Dollar | .999 Silver | 31.1 Grams | 46 / 40 mm. | Proof, colour & resin | 1500 pieces |
The honey bee coin will be available from September, and is housed in a unique hexagonal case. Made from colored acrylic, the translucent case allows you to see the coin within and replicates the translucent nature of pure New Zealand honey.
Each coin comes with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity that tells the story of how honey bees were introduced to New Zealand, written by Roger Bray of The Honeybee Society of New Zealand Inc. For more information on this and other coins issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, please visit the Web site of New Zealand Post, official distributors of RBNZ collector coins and currency.
Collectors in New Zealand can visit their local New Zealand Post retail outlet. International sales are dispatched where applicable.
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Can not find this coin. Very interested. Please send link. Thank you
Would like to order bee coins but no link on website. Please send link.
How can I acquire one of these beautiful hexagonal coins depicting the very industrious honeybee
Hello Bob,
The information for this great coin has not yet been added to the New Zealand Post’s own website – it’s a sneak preview which their marketing department have sent to my office.
The coin will likely have a preview at the ANA and the information will be included on New Zealand Post’s website before it’s official release date in September – please keep an eye on their main page and I’ll also mention that date here.
M
Would you ship to United States? I love this coin!
Cheers,
Deb
Can you please notify me when this coin is available? Will I be able to purchase it if I am from the United States? Thank you for your help.
What is the price, and would there be shipping costs to the USA?
Will notify me when this bee coin come available ..
Thank you
Mike
Found this link. . . Check for yourself.
https://coins.nzpost.co.nz/2016/new-zealand-honey-bee-silver-proof-coin
Please send link. Would like to buy.
Here it is, a mere $150 🙁
https://coins.nzpost.co.nz/new-zealand/2016/honey-bee
https://coins.nzpost.co.nz/new-zealand/2016/honey-bee
Hello Readers,
The New Zealand Post have included the ordering information on their website which enables reserving the coin with an order – when the coin is officially released, it will be shipped but bee quick – I understand the coin has become quite an attraction & hit at the ANA and with a mintage of only 1500 pieces it’ll fly away in no time..!
I ordered mine and recieved it today. I live in the UK and I’m a beekeeper and bee enthusiast. Have to say, pictures do this coin no justice. It’s simply stunning. Well done NZ.
Not fair. My name is Bee and I want (deserve) a coin. Sheesh. It’s a 2016 coin and you can’t find it anywhere ? Where can I get one in the USA ?
I absolutely fell in love with this coin! I want one, please tell me how to get one. I am in the U.S.
$150.00 a coin and they are sold out.
Amazing unusual looking coin! But with points it may poke a hole in my pocket or poke me in the side. The color resin may come off. Unless, I use the coin for display purposes or put it in my safe deposit box. I love bee’s and am in small way helping to save their lives so they won’t become extinct. I put rocks in ponds or birdbaths and a float in my pool for the bees to climb out. I also scoop out bees in the pool before they drown. I would get a bee hive but my brother doesn’t agree to having one. They are a lot of work. But we appreciate them making it so we can have flowers and fruits. I wish I could have bought such a coin but understand why they are sold out being so unique and beautiful.