Honey bees have been kept in New Zealand for more than 150 years. It’s likely that Mary Bumby, the sister of a Methodist missionary, introduced these special insects to New Zealand by bringing two hives ashore when she landed at the Māngungu Mission Station at Hokianga in March 1839.  

Bees thrived in the New Zealand bush, especially in the Bay of Islands, and the number of wild colonies multiplied rapidly. By the 1860s, bee nests in the bush were plentiful, and honey was being sold by Māori, the country’s first commercial beekeepers. Following the introduction of the Langstroth hive, commercial production of honey in New Zealand took off in the 1870s. This box-framed beehive model is still used today, and each year the New Zealand honey industry contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the national economy.  

This coin was created with help from Apiculture New Zealand 

Highlights 

• Designed by New Zealand artist Helcia Berryman
• Each coin is minted from 1oz of 0.999 silver
• Coins are hexagonal to reflect the shape of honeycomb
• Low worldwide mintage of 1,200 coins
• Presented in an elegant display case with a certificate of authenticity. 

Design 

Designed by Helcia Berryman, this proof-quality coin features a photographic image of a queen bee in colour. The coin is hexagonal to reflect the appearance of honeycomb. The silver background is frosted and features engraved illustrations of honeycomb and worker bees. The text is gold-plated. 

Denomination:	One New Zealand dollar
Finish:	Proof with colour printing and gold plating
Composition:	0.999 silver
Weight:	1 troy oz
Diameter:	46mm x 40mm
Edge treatment:	Smooth
Obverse design:	Portrait of His Majesty King Charles III, by Dan Thorne, United Kingdom
Shape:	Hexagonal
Reverse design:	Queen Bee
Designed by:	Helcia Berryman, Kapiti, New Zealand
Worldwide mintage limit:	1,200
Mint:	Royal Dutch Mint