New Zealand Coin Featuring an Egret

A 1990 coin from New Zealand featuring an Egret

I love the elegant design of this coin, and after some testing ended up painting it in my favorite deep turquoise. Since I blended a translucent paint, it can sometimes be a challenge to get the color I want with the coin color that shows through.

The design features a Eastern Great Egret, which is a type of White Heron.  It is not only highly endangered, but sacred to the indigenous Maori people in New Zealand. They value the beautiful bird for their elegant white feathers among other things.  The birds can be found wading in the shallow muddy waterways in parts of New Zealand.

Fun Fact:  
This $2 coin happens to be the largest denomination of coin in New Zealand. The coin was made in London at the Royal Mint.