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 a Scottish Fold cat.
The Mint says about it:
"Thanks to the use of high-end digital printing the tawny Devon Rex featured on the coin's reverse looks extremely lifelike. The collectible is adorned with Swarovski Elements crystals gleaming with a beautiful shade of the desert sand.
It is believed that the ancestor of the Devon Rex family was Kirlee - a curly-coated cat with a dog-like temperament which was walked on a leash and waggled its tail. It is is a recently recognised cat breed developed in the 1960s in Devonshire, England. First representatives of the breed were shown at a cat exhibition in 1965, whereas as soon as in 1967 the Devon Rex was already registered by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy organisation. The most prominent features of a Devon Rex include its petite body and large, low-set ears thanks to which it is often called an "alien cat". These kittens have almond-shaped, wide-set eyes and a soft, short and curly coat. Curly whiskers are yet another striking feature of their appearance. Devon Rexes are loyal and very attached to their owners. It is probably the only existing cat that shows its joy by waggling its tail."
Decoration: digital printing, crystals.
Quality: Proof.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity.
Date of issue: October 2016. | 
Search for Niue: One Dollar Silver 2016 Devon Rex Cat on eBay 
