New Zealand Cross, in silver and gold, the reverse centre engraved ‘specimen’, with gold two-pronged ribbon buckle, in its original Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, 112 Regent St., London, fitted case of issue, extremely fine and rare £4000-5000

Provenance: The Kuriheka Collection of British Medals, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2006; Spink, April 2018.

This is one of two official specimens of the New Zealand Cross authorised in 1914 by the Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, and struck by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, London. The other specimen struck at that time formed part of the collection of Dr Hastings Irwin, and, after his death, it was passed to the Otago Museum, Dunedin. Only 23 New Zealand Crosses were awarded and only 13 official specimens have been authorised up to the present day.