The Cook Islands, a sovereign state in free association with New Zealand, uses two official legal tender currencies. The New Zealand Dollar circulates in parallel with the local Cook Islands Dollar; at the same time, the government also authorises many legal tender coins in the Cook Islands Dollar currency for collector's purposes.
Collector coins are dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to the country itself. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes, including the large three ounces of silver format - such as this coin.
The Mint says about it:
The Samsara Wheel of Life coin is the third issue in the Archaeology and Symbolism series. The impossible has been made possible using the enhanced smartminting technology and brings the Wheel of Life to life.
The Wheel of Life or Samsara encapsulates all the essential teachings of Buddhism. It is the most profound instrument of teaching and depiction of the interrelated doctrines of Buddhism. Samsara is often painted at the gate of all the Buddhist Monasteries. The wheel of life is, in fact, a mirror. When we look at it, we are, in effect, looking at ourselves. We see ourselves in the picture, our heights, and depths, and our reactivity and potential creativity. The wheel of life has four parts. You can see a pigeon representing desire in the central circle, a snake representing hatred, and a pig that represents ignorance. These are the root or the cause of suffering in Samsara. These animals are used in the picture because they best represent the animal-like tendencies in our minds. The second circle is divided into a white path and a black path. It represents the two ways we can act in any situation, either with skilfulness or unskillfulness. The third circle has six parts which are the six realms. The upper three include the god realms, demi-god realms, and the human realm. These are the superior realms. The three inferior lower realms are the animal realm, the hungry ghost realm, and the hell realm. The fourth circle shows the 12 links of dependent origination. The wrathful figure that holds the wheel is Yama, or the lord of death, representing the impermanence of life. |
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The obverse of the coin shows a large question mark at its centre, filled with Ancient symbols.
Below left, the Fourth Definitive Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by Ian Rank-Broadley; the Queen is crowned, facing right. Below the portrait, the designer's initials IRB.
The background of the centre is patterned with thin concentric lines. Around below right, the name of the series ARCHEOLOGY & SYMBOLISM (sic).
The rim is raised; incuse in it, around above the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · COOK ISLANDS; around below, the face value 20 DOLLARS. |
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