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.
The Mint says about this coin: The Agate Scarabaeus (or scarab) constitutes a metaphorical representation of fire and the Sun. It is full of positive energy trapped in in agate millions of years ago. This souvenir, decorated with golden digital printing and a beautiful stone with a fiery shade, can be yours today!
Agate, a beautiful mineral with iridescent colours and a complex structure, was used in jewellery making and applied arts of Ancient Egypt. Amulets, seals and statuettes of Egyptian gods were produced from it. This is why agate was believed to have inherent magical properties. The opalescent crimson colour of the fire agate enhances courage and fortitude. This extremely rare variety of chalcedony will unlock your potential and rekindle your spiritual energy.
In Ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle was seen as the epitome of divinity. As a symbol of rebirth, it was believed to illustrate the Sun's heavenly path across the sky and its daily self-renewal. Produced from precious metals and gemstones, these beautifully crafted sacred beetles were popular talismans, often used as currency. Today, the scarab-shaped amulets are excavated in the countries that once had close commercial relations with Ancient Egypt. |