Gold Half Ounce 2015 Red Army Captures Berlin, 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. These coins are dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to Niue itself. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes - such as a half ounce of gold (abbreviated as 1/2 oz Au, where "Au" comes from the Latin word for gold, Aurum).

This coin, commemorating the Capture of Berlin by the Red Army in 1945, was issued as part of a four-coin gold proof set by the Czech Mint.

The Mint says about the coin:
This year, the whole world commemorates an important anniversary - 70 years since the end of World War II. But the end was brought about by a number of events which importance changed the course of history forever. At a time when Stalin's troops approached the heart of the Third Reich, one of the most terrifying conflicts of history was culminating. During four days of fierce fighting the major part of Berlin was conquered - on 29th April the Red Army occupied the Ministry of Defence and a day later attacked the Reichstag. Hitler had to admit defeat; after noon on 30th April, together with his wife Eva, he took his own life. On the same day, at ten o'clock in the evening, two soldiers of the Red Army raised the Soviet flag on the dome of the Reichstag.

General Weidling ended the fighting on 2nd May. He ordered the Berlin garrison to surrender, and thus ended the bloodiest chapter in modern history. On 7th May the German High Command signed a surrender act in Reims with the Western Allies. The act was signed by representatives of the Soviet Union and the Western powers the following day in Berlin. The 8th May went down in history as the end of the 2nd World War in Europe. The capture of Berlin became the Stalin's greatest military triumph and the greatest satisfaction for the residents of the liberated countries after years of suffering.