The "Treebeard" nickname refers to this coin's place in New Zealand's 2003 Lord of the Rings circulation series, released to coincide with The Return of the King promotional cycle. New Zealand Post coordinated the issue with the Reserve Bank, an unusual arrangement that reflected the government's active role in leveraging the Jackson films as national export. The series marked one of the few times a sovereign currency circulated alongside frankly cinematic subject matter — not commemorative, but intended for general use.
The "Treebeard" nickname refers to this coin's place in New Zealand's 2003 Lord of the Rings circulation series, released to coincide with The Return of the King promotional cycle. New Zealand Post coordinated the issue with the Reserve Bank, an unusual arrangement that reflected the government's active role in leveraging the Jackson films as national export. The series marked one of the few times a sovereign currency circulated alongside frankly cinematic subject matter — not commemorative, but intended for general use.