With a cluster of mints being based in Australia and New Zealand, and with 2015 being the centenary of the deployment of ANZAC troops to the famous battlefield of Gallipoli, it comes as no surprise that commemorative coins celebrating the anniversary are coming thick and fast.

The New Zealand Post have released coins previously on the subject, but this time they’ve entered into a collaboration with the Australia Post to put together a two-coin, two-stamp themed set.

Each of the coins is rectangular and designed to look like a stamp, even down the edge of the coin looking like the perforations around the edge of a stamp. Both coins use many of the same elements, such as the silhouetted soldiers, with the primary difference being the coloured background showing different depictions of the Gallipoli beaches at ANZAC Cove. We like these as they’re well designed and a poignant tribute to the ANZAC forces that fought in the campaign. The edge detail is effective and we’d imagine quite hard to strike. They’re not hugely ambitious in design and for a change, we think that’s for the best. Simplicity has its own strength with subjects like this.

Accompanying the two Perth Mint-struck ½oz coins are a pair of matching stamps. The whole set is displayed in one of the excellent latex-based Nimbus display frames. Available for pre-order now, they begin to ship from 7 April for $199.00 NZD.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

New Zealand Post is proud to partner with Australia Post to mark 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign. This unique stamp and coin issue commemorates the relationship New Zealand and Australia share under the banner of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).

Available in this issue is the ‘2015 Anzac Stamp and Coin Set’, containing special commemorative stamp-shaped legal tender coins – a first for New Zealand commemorative coins. The set is limited to 2,500 worldwide and contains the Australian 70c stamp and corresponding replica coin for the issue and the New Zealand $2.00 stamp and corresponding replica coin. Each coin has been minted by The Perth Mint using 1/2 oz silver printed with selective colour and is housed in a contemporary, clear latex display case with a black frame. The display case is packaged within a custom-themed, illustrated shipper, and comes accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

REVERSE: Both coins depict the silhouettes of an Australian and a New Zealand soldier against the rugged hills of the Gallipoli peninsula at Anzac Cove.

OBVERSE: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, United Kingdom