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 bullion sizes based on the troy ounce, but some are "metric", like twenty grams (20g) of silver.
This coin is part of a heart-shaped series issued (almost) annually with a new design every year.
The Mint says about it: The Valentine coin in the characteristic heart shape is the second of its kind and literally stands out from the crowd with its magnificent crystal rose bouquet. Valentine’s Day is celebrated by lovers worldwide and has its origins in ancient Rome. Saint Valentine used to wed love-struck couples according to Christian tradition which was prohibited in those days. Although he enjoyed widespread popularity, Valentine was executed for this reason on February 14th, 296 A.D.
The coin is made with Swarovski elements. |