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 scarab (scarabaeus) is one of the most important Egyptian protective amulets. For centuries, amber has been considered a valuable stone possessing mysterious properties. In Antiquity, amulets made of the mineral were believed to protect the owner against evil spirits and ensure one’s longevity. This coin is a perfect combination of symbolism and the energy of the Egyptian sun captured in an amber stone. |