A coin to remember – A rich opportunity for social sciences learning

In October 2018, the Armistice Day 50 cent coin is being issued by the Reserve Bank to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this defining event in our nation’s history. It is an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families to bring peace to New Zealand and the world. Two million of these coins have been minted.

The date of 11 November 2018 will mark 100 years since what became known as Armistice Day, the end of World War I. Beginning in August 1914, World War I became the bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen. In just over four years, millions were killed and millions more wounded. On the main fronts, trench warfare meant painfully slow progress and appalling conditions. The Gallipoli campaign, in which so many young Kiwis died, is burnt into our nation’s memory.

World War I had an impact on nearly every family in New Zealand. We sent over 100,000 young men and more than 550 nurses and others – it was almost nine per cent of our population at the time. More than 58,000 New Zealanders became casualties, of those over 16,500 were killed. More died later from the effects of poison gas and disease.

Standout feature

The standout feature of the Armistice Day coin(external link) is the use of colour – a striking red, green and white. The coin features a koru representing new beginnings and a silver fern reflecting our national identity. The design of the coin offers teachers and students an opportunity to reflect on the cultural and historical significance of World War I and Armistice Day and you can download the Armistice Day Coin app to investigate further.

The coloured remembrance wreath created by artist Dave Burke represents past, present and future. It also symbolises our three armed forces. At the centre of the coin is the RSA’s red poppy, an international symbol of war remembrance. On the other side of the coin is a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The coin has been created by the Royal Canadian Mint – who also supply our 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces.

Teachers and students can learn more about the way the coin is manufactured by watching this video(external link).

The coin features a koru representing new beginnings and a silver fern reflecting our national identity.