22 October 2013

New Zealand Post Stamps and Coins Inspired by The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Go Global

New Zealand Post is bracing for Hobbit-mania of global proportions for the latest issue of stamps and coins to mark the release of the second film in The Hobbit Trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM).

New Zealand Post was bombarded with orders from 88 countries for last year’s issue to celebrate the 2012 release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Head of Stamps and Coins Simon Allison says a third of all orders are from overseas with people in some far-flung locations keen to get their hands on the range of commemorative coins, presentation packs and stamps.

“We had orders from Kazakhstan, Iceland, Libya, Bolivia and the Canary Islands – there are Hobbit movie fans literally around the globe that can’t wait to get hold of the New Zealand Post-produced stamps and coins.

“Based on last year’s experience, we know news of this release will spread far and wide and the orders will start pouring in. We’ll be shipping Gandalf the Grey to Greece and they’ll be going bonkers for Bilbo Baggins first day covers in Brunei,” he said.

Simon Allison said the next biggest demand after New Zealand came from Australia, the UK and the United States.

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This year’s issue features a premium gold coin and set, a silver coin with gold plating, a silver coin set, a brilliant uncirculated coin and set as well as official stamp products.

Click for big version.

New Zealand Post, in agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Warner Bros. Pictures, and the filmmakers, has exclusive rights to produce official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins that celebrate Academy Award®-winning filmmaker, Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM).

The stamps and legal tender coins are available for pre-order online today at www.nzpost.co.nz/thehobbit and will go on sale from 1 November 2013 at PostShops, REAL Aotearoa stores, or by phoning 0800 782 677.

Note: New Zealand Post is authorised by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as the only official issuer of legal tender New Zealand commemorative coins.

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