The kiwi bird is one of the iconic symbols of New Zealand, made all the more desirable by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's execution of this rare and endangered flightless bird in pure silver, artistically rendered in a reverse prooflike finish, in which the design or devices are mirrored. The kiwi bird is flanked by an outline or map of New Zealand, dominated by the North and South Islands.

This beautiful silver dollar is part of the highly collectible series of Pure Silver Kiwis. The obverse design of this series, with the kiwi bird, changes each year, further enhancing its collectibility. The reverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II of the British Commonwealth, of which Australia is a member. They always have extremely low mintage limits—in this case, only 10,000 - so they always sell out at the Mint quickly. The Pure Silver Kiwi has a face value of one dollar and can be difficult to locate, much less in pristine condition, so we advise you to acquire one when you find them.

The Endangered Kiwi Bird
Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx. The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand. Indeed, the association is so strong that the term Kiwi is used as the colloquial moniker for New Zealanders.

At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world. There are five recognized species, all of which are endangered; all species have been adversely affected by historic deforestation but currently large areas of their forest habitat are well protected in reserves and national parks. At present, the greatest threat to their survival is predation by invasive mammalian predators.

Before the arrival of humans in the 13th century or earlier, New Zealand's only endemic mammals were three species of bat, so the ecological niches filled by mammals in other parts of the world were taken up by birds (and, to a lesser extent, reptiles) in New Zealand.

Although they once numbered in the millions and were found throughout New Zealand, there are now sadly fewer than one hundred thousand kiwi left today. All five species of kiwi are classed as endangered and are rarely seen in the wild. The North Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx matelli) was once widespread in lowland bush, but today they are thought only to live in Northalnd, and some parts of the East and West coasts. The harsh living conditions of the Great Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx haastii) make life tough-going for potential predators, helping this kiwi to remain more abundant than the other species.

The extremely rare Haast Tokoeka (Apteryx australis) lives in a very small region of South Westland. The Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii) is now extinct on mainland New Zealand, with the largest remaining population living on predator-free Kapiti Island. The rarest of all species of kiwi is the Rowi (Apteryx rowi), which is now only found in its natural habitat in the small Okarito region of Westland on the South Island.

Natural History of the Kiwi
Kiwi are shy and usually nocturnal. Their mostly nocturnal habits may be a result of habitat intrusion by predators (including humans). In areas of New Zealand where introduced predators have been removed, such as sanctuaries, kiwi are often seen in daylight. They prefer subtropical and temperate forests, but they are being forced to adapt to less-ideal habitat, such as sub-alpine scrub, tussock grassland, and the mountains.

Kiwi have a highly developed sense of smell, unusual in a bird, and are the only birds with nostrils at the end of their long beaks. Kiwi eat small invertebrates, seeds, grubs, and many varieties of worms. They also may eat fruit, small crayfish, eels and amphibians. Because their nostrils are located at the end of their long beaks, they can locate insects and worms underground without actually seeing or feeling them, due to their keen sense of smell.

Once bonded, a male and female kiwi tend to live their entire lives as a monogamous couple. During the mating season, June to March, the pair call to each other at night, and meet in the nesting burrow every three days. These relationships may last for up to 20 years. Usually only one egg is laid per season. Kiwi eggs can weigh up to one quarter the weight of the female. The kiwi lays the biggest egg in proportion to its size of any bird in the world, so even though the kiwi is about the size of a domestic chicken, it is able to lay eggs that are about six times the size of a chicken's egg.

Obverse
An image of a kiwi bird, one of the national symbols of New Zealand, and the outline of the country of New Zealand with its two main islands. The denomination is indicated.

Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend ELIZABETH II and the date of issue also appear.

Packaging
Each coin is encapsulated and sealed inside an informative blister pack. Additional information about the kiwi as well as complete specifications and integral certificate of authenticity are included.

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