I don't think J.R.R Tolkien ever envisoned how his books would singlehandedly pump mass amounts of money into the New Zealand economy, with native Peter Jackson filming the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies in the beautiful backdrop and massive sound stages there. Now the country will simultaneously cash in on and honor Tolkien's creations, which will grace the faces of New Zealand commemorative coins and stamps starting on November 1st.
Though the coins will be legal tender, don't expect to see any of it in circulation. As AFP notes (via io9):
The most expensive, made from one ounce (28.3 grams) of pure gold, will set Tolkien enthusiasts back NZ$3,695 ($3,020) but has a face value of just NZ$10, while the cheapest is a NZ$1 coin retailing for NZ$29.90.
If you're not looking to battle Gollum-like collectors and fiends for coins, you can probably get your hands on some of the (much more affordable) stamps that will be released.
Ian McKellen offered up his thoughts on the commemorative stamps saying, "To put Gandalf on these splendiferous coins is a wizard idea [...] The pointy hat, the beard and the illuminated staff — the $1.90 NZ stamp is pure Gandalf."
Will you be adding these to your Hobbit collections?
