Owner Comments:
Little Spotted Kiwi - The little spotted kiwi, Apteryx owenii, or little gray kiwi are the smallest of all the kiwi species. They are approximately13.8–17.7 in (35–45 cm) long. Males are 2–2.9 lbs (0.9–1.3 kg) in weight while females are 2.2–4.2 lbs (1.0–1.9 kg). They are small, flightless, nocturnal birds with pale-mottled, gray, shaggy plumage. The body is pear-shaped with a long neck and bill. At first glance their feathers look more like fur. They lack a tail but have a small pygostyle (the final few posterior vertebrae fused into a single ossification, supporting the tail feathers and musculature).
They survive on only four islands in New Zealand: Kapati Red Mercury. Hen, and Long Island. These kiwis inhabit evergreen, broadleaf forest and the margins of forests up to altitudes of 3,000 ft (1,000 m) with over 40 in (100 cm) annual rainfall. Little Spotted Kiwis favor wet forests with rotten logs and dense undergrowth.
Little spotted kiwi pairs hold territories of about 10 acres (4 ha). Mating pairs form in the second year of life and are maintained for life. Chases occur in defense of territory but most displays are vocal, using high-pitched whistles that have distinct male and female versions. They nest in burrows dug by the pair. Sometimes there is no nest material, but sometimes leaves and twigs are gathered. Most clutches are composed of one egg, but about 15% have two. The male incubates the eggs alone, sitting for 63–76 days. The chick is tended (fed) for about four weeks after it hatches. Unlike the brown kiwi, the chick of the little spotted kiwi may stay in the nest for two to three weeks before emerging.
The kiwis are omnivorous but they eat mostly soil and litter invertebrates such as earthworms, millipedes, and larval beetles, as well as moths, crickets, and spiders, supplemented with some fruit.
Technical Specifications of the Coin:
Denomination: One Dollar
Composition: 99.9% Fine Silver
Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
Weight: One Troy Ounce
Diameter: 40mm
Edge Treatment: Milled
Issue Limit: 10,000
Mint: Royal Australian Mint
According to some estimates, only 2000 to 2500 of these coins were actually issued in 2004. That would make this the rarest coin in the set. So far this is the only one graded MS70 by NGC, as of the end of 2018, nearly 10 years after I had it graded. However, only 6 have been graded by NGC in total, so there could easily be more out there.
Design-wise, this coin makes for an interesting start to the set. The kiwi is placed directly in the middle of the design and dominates the face of the coin. There are no background features whatsoever, but the coin is allowed to "stand" on the word "dollar." This grounds the kiwi in the image and prevents any sense that the kiwi is floating. At the same time, the coin's rim is dominated by some odd squiggles that make the coin feel like it's surrounded by party horns. These squiggles lack context and come off as space-fillers. They ultimately hurt the design. It seems like a trend with most of these series that the first design is almost always the weakest. The design is by no means ugly, but I think it is out-done by later coins in the series.