Forty Ducats 2020 Prague Astronomical Clock, Coin from Niue - detailed information

Niue, a sovereign state in free association with New Zealand, uses two official legal tender currencies. The New Zealand Dollar is the circulation currency for daily transactions, while the government also authorises legal tender coins in the Niue Dollar currency for collector's purposes.

A number of mints issue a large variety of commemorative and collector coins under the authority of Niue. One of them is the Czech Mint, which uses not only standard bullion sizes but also some formats based on the Czech Gold Ducat, including 40 Ducats weighing a massive 139.5 grams.

The coins are "Non-Circulating Legal Tender" (NCLT) and not bullion because they are issued at prices much higher than their bullion value and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic or sentimental value, and not at bullion investors.

The Mint says about this coin:
The Prague Astronomical Clock, which is admired by millions of tourists from all over the world, has become the motif of this Czech Mint's large gold coin. The history of the instrument, which measures not only time but also the position of celestial bodies, dates back to 1410. Therefore, the Prague Astronomical Clock is one of the oldest in the world. It gives unique evidence of the technical skills of medieval watchmakers and it is a unique work of art that combines many different styles - from Gothic to Romantic.

The Prague Astronomical Clock is also surrounded by a number of legends that say that its existence is connected with our homeland. When the painter Josef Mánes received a contract to create the astronomical clock's calendar plate to complement the astronomical dial, his colleagues tried to discourage him. According to the prophecy, madness awaited everyone who worked on the astronomical clock. However, the disaster was not only a threat to the artist himself - the astronomical clock had not worked for centuries, and if it worked, the Czech lands would be hit by a disaster. Manes ignored the warning and created a monumental allegory of the twelve months of the year. Whether it was a coincidence or a real curse, the prophecy came true - the astronomical clock was finally put into operation in 1866, when the Prussians invaded Bohemia, the cholera epidemic started and the painter was afflicted by mental illness.