Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion, Coin from Niue - detailed information

Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion, Coin from Niue
CoinGold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion

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, collector and bullion 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 based on the troy ounce - such as the mini-coin format of one twenty-fifth of an ounce of gold (abbreviated as 1/25 oz Au, where "Au" comes from the Latin word for gold, Aurum).

This coin is part of the "Czech Lion" series of gold and silver coins, minted since 2017. World bullion coins are often dedicated to national symbols, therefore the "Czech Lion", which is the first issue of its kind intended for the Czech market, is not an exception. The weight of this gold coin by the Czech Mint is one twenty-fifth of a troy ounce.

The Mint says about it:
Every Czech knows that a two-tailed lion is the dominant heraldic animal of the Czech Republic. But how did this exotic beast get into the emblem of a country situated in the heart of Europe? The legend of Bruncvík, the mythical prince, who left his beloved woman and set out in the world to seek honour and glory, provides a hint. When he was shipwrecked in far Africa, he helped the animal king to fight the beast. Since then the grateful lion followed him, they experienced many adventures and won a miracle sword. Bruncvík returned to the Czech lands after seven long years and fought for the heart of his beloved one. They lived happily until death, and immortalised the faithful lion on the banner.

Old chroniclers offer more plausible explanations, but they like to colour their stories, so you can find a number of discrepancies there. The first truly documented Czech lion was a symbol of the Přemyslid dynasty and appeared on the equestrian seal of Vladislav Henry in 1203. The lion became the national symbol during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia, the Iron and Golden King.

The Czech Mint reworked all variants of investment coins in 2020, but the main idea remained. In addition to the Czech lion in a not-traditionally realistic presentation, the reverse side of the gold coin presents two more symbols of Czech statehood - the St Wenceslas crown on the head of a two-tailed beast, and an eagle on the shield, which is a synthesis of the St Wenceslas, Moravian and Silesian birds of prey.

MintCzech Mint Mint MarkMonogram ČM Total Mintage10,000
Obverse
Niue / Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion - obverse photo

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: NIUE ISLAND ELIZABETH II 5 DOLLARS 2020.

The date is surrounded by sprigs of linden - the Czech national tree. Below the date, the mint mark of the Czech Mint - a crowned monogram of the letters ČM (Česká mincovna).

Obverse Inscription NIUE ISLAND ELIZABETH II 5 DOLLARS 2020
Reverse
Niue / Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin represents a realistic depiction of a lion walking to left and facing the viewer, crowned with the crown of St Wenceslas (Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia between 921 and 935).

The background has the shape of a shield, on which an eagle outline is the symbol of Moravia and Silesia, two of the three historical Czech lands represented on the Coat of Arms of the Czech Republic (the outlines of the two eagles are identical, they only differ in colour, which is not shown on the coin).

Around left and right, facing outward, the inscription ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA (Czech Republic). Horizontally above, the precious metal content: 1/25oz Au 999.9 (one twenty-fifth of a troy ounce of 99.99% gold; Au is abbreviated from "Aurum", the Latin word for gold).

In the lower left, the designer's monogram. Below left and right, sprigs of linden - the Czech national tree.

Reverse Inscription ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA 1/25oz Au 999.9
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: in individual capsule.
Czech Mint Product Code: 75704-610
Date of issue: February 2020
Issue price: 2,436 CZK

9,475 individual coins in capsules plus 500 in cards, and 25 in sets.

Included in Set
Czech Lion 2020 Seven Coin Gold Set, mintage 25
7 coins: 1 kg Gold, 10 oz Gold, 5 oz Gold, 1 oz Gold, 1/2 oz Gold, 1/4 oz Gold, 1/25 oz Gold
See also

Coins in the Czech Lion series issued in 2020 include:
- 1 kg Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 10 oz Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 5 oz Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 1 oz Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 1/2 oz Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 1/4 oz Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 1/25 oz Gold, Czech Lion 2020
- 1 kg Silver, Czech Lion 2020
- 10 oz Silver, Czech Lion 2020
- 5 oz Silver, Czech Lion 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Czech Lion 2020
- 1 oz Silver, Czech Lion 2020

Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion: Known varieties
Variety In numbered card
Mintage Issued: 500 (included in total)
Details

Brilliant Uncirculated card in a numbered blister card. Czech Mint Product Code: 75711-610.

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Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion: Details
CountryNiue
CurrencyNiue Dollar
Coin TypeGold Twenty-fifth Ounce (1/25 oz)
Issued2020
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
ReverseCzech Lion
Face Value5 (x Dollar)
Total Mintage10,000
CurrentYes
Material0.9999 Gold
DesignerAsamat Baltaev
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size13.0000 mm
Mass1.2400 g
OCC IDANMQ-EPYC-WNND-OJYG
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Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion: Photos
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Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion: Photo Coin, Niue, Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion
Copyright: Czech Mint
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Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion: Photo Coin, Niue, Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion
Copyright: Czech Mint
Source
Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion: Photo Coin, Niue, Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2020 Czech Lion
Copyright: Czech Mint
Source