| Coin | Silver Ounce 2021 Quest of the Ring - Gates of Argonath |
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New Zealand uses the New Zealand Dollar as its circulation currency for daily transactions. The country also issues a number of commemorative and collector coins, including in the internationally popular one ounce of silver format (abbreviated as 1 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). Authorised by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the official issuer of these coins is NZ Post - which also issues the country's postal stamps. Manufacturing of the coins is commissioned to various foreign mints.
The coins are "Non-Circulating Legal Tender" (NCLT) and not bullion because they are issued at prices much higher than their intrinsic value and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic or sentimental value, and not at bullion investors.
December 2021 marks 20 years since the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. A fantasy story of epic proportions, the film invited a new generation into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved mid-century novels. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed entirely in New Zealand, whose unique landscapes provided a bounty of spectacular scenery. One of modern cinema's greatest achievements, the film earned 13 Academy Award nominations and grossed US$897.7 million worldwide, putting New Zealand on the map as a beautiful place to visit and a brilliant location for film making.
This coin is part of the three-coin The Quest of the Ring set featuring key moments from The Fellowship of the Ring, and depicts the epic scene when the companions gaze up at the Gates of Argonath as they travel by river.
The obverse of the coin features 'Middle-earth' alongside 'New Zealand', acknowledging New Zealand's role in the films as the fictional land. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: NEW ZEALAND .999 Ag 1 oz ELIZABETH II 2021 MIDDLE-EARTH.
The inscription indicates the precious metal content - ".999 Ag 1 oz" means "one troy ounce of 99.9% silver"; Ag is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver. The obverse of the coin also acknowledges New Zealand as the home of Middle-earth.
The rim is selectively gold plated. |
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| Reverse | |
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This reverse of the coin is coloured and shows the Gates of Argonath from The Fellowship of the Ring film, with three small boats carrying the Companions approaching.
Around above, the inscription THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING * 20th ANNIVERSARY.
Around below, the value and denomination ONE DOLLAR.
The rim is selectively gold plated. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING * 20th ANNIVERSARY ONE DOLLAR |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured, selective gold plating.
Issued in three-coin set only. |
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| See also |
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring 20th Anniversary coins include:
- 1 kg Silver, The Fellowship of the Ring (The Nine Companions), 2021
- 5 oz Silver, The Fellowship of the Ring (The Nine Companions), 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Frodo, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Boromir, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Gandalf, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Gandalf's Escape by Eagle, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, The Doors of Durin, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, The Gates of Argonath, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Saruman, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Lurtz, 2021
- 1 oz Silver, Eye of Sauron, 2021
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