It's possibly one of the strangest items to go up for auction in Tauranga.

A giant coffin, supposedly used as a prop on the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, has made its way onto the floor at Bay Auctions.

The carving on the coffin lid is of New Zealand actor Kevin Smith, who played god of war Ares on the show – a role he reprised in both Xena: Warrior Princess and Young Hercules.

He died in China in 2002, after falling several storeys on a film set.

Bay Auctions owner Ellen Orr says their privacy policy means she can't give out many details about the vendor, but imagines the prop has been through a few auctions.

The piece will be among several items auctioned off tonight from 5.30pm, so get in quick if you want to check it out for yourself.

What's the strangest item you've seen at auction? Share your own finds in the comments below, or over on our Facebook page.

Rob from Bay Auctions demonstrates the size of the coffin.