A bit of a change in New Zealand currency - from 31st July 2006 the NZ 5¢ coin is being phased out, and will no longer be legal tender beyond 1st November 2006. Goodbye little tuatara. The 5¢ coin is silver, 19.43mm in diameter, and weighs 2.83g, and has been New Zealand's lowest currency denomination since the bronze 1¢ and 2¢ coins were phased out in May 1990.

This change means that the NZ 10¢ coin will become the lowest denomination in NZ currency. In addition to the 5¢ phase out, the 10¢, 20¢ and 50¢ coins are being changed in size and weight (reduced) and, in the case of the 10¢ coin, changed from silver to copper. The existing $1 and $2 coins, which were introduced in February 1991 to replace the $1 and $2 notes, remain unchanged.

	old 10¢ coin silver 23.62mm diameter 5.66g		new 10¢ coin copper 20.50mm diameter 3.3g
	old 20¢ coin silver 28.58mm diameter 11.31g		new 20¢ coin silver 21.75mm diameter 4.0g
	old 50¢ coin silver 31.75mm diameter 13.61g		new 50¢ coin silver 24.75mm diameter 5.0g
	existing $1 coin bronze 23.0mm diameter 8.0g		existing $2 coin bronze 26.5mm diameter 10.0g
	old 1¢ coin bronze 17.53mm diameter 2.07g		old 2¢ coin bronze 21.08mm diameter 4.14g

I was around when the 1¢ and 2¢ pieces were taken out of circulation, as well as when the $1 and $2 coins were introduced. People adjusted pretty quickly, although you did have to pay attention that you didn't give out a $1 coin instead of a 10¢ coin when in low or yellowish lighting, since they were roughly the same size. One person on a NZ forum I frequent commented that they personally gave out a new 50¢ coin today thinking it was an old 10¢ coin, but reactions generally seem mixed. I'm sure they'll manage ..not like they've got a choice. Personally I think it's not a bad thing at all - I never liked piles of shrapnel weighing me down. The US in comparison is really bad for shrapnel - they still have pennies here (1¢ coins) so the coinage mounts up in your wallet / pocket / backpack really quickly. Feel free to share your thoughts.