The kiwi on the 20 cents in this 1972 set is a hallmark of the first decimal series: the bird stayed on the 20 cents from 1967 to 1989 and then gave way to the Māori carving of Pūkaki, because the kiwi moved to the new 1 dollar coin.

The set gathers seven denominations of a single year. The minor coins’ reverses are James Berry’s work: a silver fern on the 1 cent, kōwhai flowers on the 2 cents, a tuatara on the 5 cents, a koruru mask on the 10 cents, a kiwi on the 20 cents and the bark Endeavour off Mount Taranaki on the 50 cents. All are united by Arnold Machin’s portrait of Elizabeth II, used on New Zealand coins until 1986.

The 1972 dollar is the arms type: a crowned shield framed by ferns on the reverse and a reeded edge. It was issued in year sets and in individual plastic cases.

The VF-AU grade covers coins with visible wear on the high points and sharp details as well as pieces that saw almost no circulation. In a decimal New Zealand date run this is a year between anniversary issues, with every denomination in its standard form.

The VPcoins catalogue features coins from many countries, making it easy to build a collection by geography or by subject.