New Zealand Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II

Can I have a clarification of the numbers of portraits of queen Elizabeth II on New Zealand coins.
Pre decimal coinage = First Portrait.
First Decimal coinage  = Second Portrait.
1986 - 1999 = Third Portrait.
2000 on = Fourth Portrait.

So what is the portrait on commemerative Dollar coins from 1979 - 1982?
This is clearly different to the now third portrait, so should it not in fact be the third and the current coinage be the fifth?

Your thoughts please.

Vern

This is a strange one. I can see the obverse designs that you're talking about

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces13917.html

and I've never seen anything like it on circulating currency before. It also strikes me as odd that they had the Arnold Machin obverse up to 1978, then this strange one by George Berry (who?) then it changes back to Machin in 1983. Are you sure these coins were authorised by the Royal Mint? They look as if they might be 'fantasy' coins.

Hi,
The portrait featured on four years of One Dollar coins. They are not "Fantasy Coins" but also not regular circulating coins either.  However they are legal tender.
These were produced for the New Zealand Reserve Bank by both the Royal Mint and the Canadian Royal Mint.
The coins were available in either the Uncirculated Dollar in a hard plastic case, Uncirculated set in a soft plastic wallet or in a perspex Proof set. I own all varities except Proof.
The engraver has a history of engraving New Zealand coins and stamps.
Please see:   http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/about/whatwedo/3063342.html

I beleive James Berry deserves the correct acknowledgement of producing the Third Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on New Zealand's coins.

Vern

I apologise for my ignorance about the late James Berry and about his acheivements and recognition as a man at the top of his profession. I would still be curious to learn more about how these obverse designs came about and why these were the only years that the obverse differed from the UK standard portrait of the Queen.