Coin | One Dollar Silver 2015 Arabian Horse |
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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, bullion and collector coins under the authority of Niue. These coins are dedicated to historical or general popular culture themes not related to Niue itself.
Some coins are marketed in standard bullion sizes, like half ounce silver, one ounce silver etc, and some of those are also denominated as $1, for which see respective lists. This coin, denominated as One Niue Dollar, is not in a standard ounce-based size and is made using a "smartminting" technique - meaning that it has features not generally found in circulation coins.
This coin is part of the Man's Best Friends series and features an Arabian Horse.
The Mint says about it: "They are noble and elegant, yet strong and robust. Thanks to distinctive blend of grace and strength, Arabian horses are the epitome of classical equine beauty.
Vivid images of hot-blooded Arabian horses dynamically reflect sheer beauty of these gentle animals. Thanks to high-quality digital printing the image of the palfrey depicted on the coin looks strikingly lifelike. The project alludes to the desert landscape of the Arabian Peninsula - the cradle of the Arabian horse. Arabians, as they are often referred to, are very intelligent, good-natured and willing to please. No wonder that these delightful animals are the subject of many legends. One of them states that Muhammad, after a strenuous desert journey, tested his mares' loyalty by turning them back from a waterhole. Only five of the desperately thirsty animals responded. These faithful mares became the legendary founders of the pure-blood Arabian breed." |
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Obverse | |
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: ELIZABETH II NIUE ISLAND · 1 DOLLAR 2015 ·.
Below the portrait on its right side, the small MW mint mark of the Mint of Poland (m over W), for Mennica Warszawska (Mint of Warsaw).
Around below right, the hallmark Ag 999 (99.9% silver; "Ag" is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver, and is internationally used to mark silver coins and jewellery). |
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Reverse | |
The central part of the coin shows a colourful image of a pure-blood chestnut Arabian horse. To the right, a relief image of another representative of the breed. Above it, the outline of a horse and a rider dressed in Bedouin traditional clothes.
The background is a decorative surface representing desert sand.
Along the rim, around above the name of the coin in Polish: KOŃ ARABSKI, and around below left in English: ARABIAN HORSE. |
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Reverse Inscription |
KOŃ ARABSKI ARABIAN HORSE |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: proof, digital printing. Packaging: boxed, with Certificate of Authenticity. Date of issue: February 2015. |
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See also |
Coins in the Man's Best Friends include: - $1 Silver, Bengal Cat, 2014 - $1 Silver, British Shorthair Cat, 2014 - $1 Silver, European Shorthair Cat, 2014 - $1 Silver, Javanese Cat, 2014 - $1 Silver, Siamese Cat, 2014 - $1 Silver, Maine Coon, 2014 - $1 Silver, Persian Cat, 2014 - $1 Silver, Scottish Fold Cat, 2015 - $1 Silver, Somali Cat, 2015 - $1 Silver, Devon Rex Cat, 2016 - $1 Silver, Labrador Retriever Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, Chow Chow Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, Cocker Spaniel Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, White Terrier Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, Chihuahua Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, German Shepard Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, Yorkshire Terrier Dog, 2014 - $1 Silver, Bernese Mountain Dog, 2015 - $1 Silver, Pug Dog, 2015 - $1 Silver, Siberian Husky Dog, 2016 - $1 Silver, Arabian Horse, 2015 - $1 Silver, Friesian Horse, 2016 - $1 Silver, Thoroughbred Horse, 2017
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