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 gold coin is dedicated to the Lunar Year of the Dragon 2024, the fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac calendar.
The mint says about it: According to Eastern calendar, the Dragon is the most powerful sign in the Chinese horoscope because it symbolises strength, luck, and prosperity. It is a mystical creature with special power and awareness. Dragons are worshipped and exalted in Chinese culture –associated with royalty, as it was believed that when dead dragons were reborn as emperors and ruled their country with majesty. They are also considered a symbol of Yin and Yang harmony and coherency. |