William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. Through the early years he chiefly wrote tragedies including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth. These are now considered some of the finest works in the English language.

New Zealand Mint has issued this coin to mark the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth.

The coin reverse depicts famous heroes of Shakespeare’s tragedies: King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet in engraved relief.

This features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the left and a coloured portrait of Shakespeare engraved in a conventionalized frame on the right.