(London Telegraph) Hobbit coins, featuring characters such as Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the wizard, will be legal tender in the country, New Zealand Post said – although their face value will be only a fraction of the cost collectors will be expected to pay.
The most expensive, made from one ounce (28.3 grams) of pure gold, costs more than 350 times its face value. It will set Tolkien enthusiasts back NZ$3,695 (£1890) but has a face value of just NZ$10 (£5).
The cheapest is available for almost 30 times its face value – a NZ$1 (£0.50) coin retailing for NZ$29.90 (£15).