Silver Ounce 2024 Dark Sky, Coin from New Zealand - detailed information

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.

This coin was issued as part of a two-coin set, and is called the Dark Sky.

NZ Post (the issuer of the coin) says about it:
The dramatic night skies of Aotearoa, New Zealand are sought out and internationally celebrated for their pristine celestial displays, with locations across the country now firm astronomy-tourism destinations and more areas officially recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association.

The coin set celebrates the beautiful vistas of deep dark and light in the southern skies, protected and enjoyed by many in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

In January 2023, the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association successfully achieved its long-held goal of being granted certification for a new International Dark Sky Reserve in the Wairarapa region of the North Island. Covering 3,665 square kilometres of land, the new reserve is now protected for people to enjoy and learn about the night skies. This coin features a stunning image of the starry night sky that’s possible to see thanks to the reserve.