Silver Ounce 2024 Light 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 Light 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.

Due to New Zealand’s proximity to the South Pole, the night skies are occasionally graced with the Aurora Australis, known locally as the Southern Lights. While the Southern Lights can be visible around the country, the best views can be found low on the southern horizon in the South Island during the extended dark hours of winter nights. Away from bright residential lighting, with as little moonlight as possible, aurora hunters can see truly epic displays with little or no equipment. This coin features a vibrant image of the Southern Lights captured in the South Island.