One Hundred Ducats 2016 Saint Vitus, Coin from Niue - detailed information

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 and collector coins under the authority of Niue. One of them is the Czech Mint, which uses not only standard bullion sizes but also some formats based on the Czech Gold Ducat, including 100 Ducats weighing a massive 348.5 grams.

The coins are "Non-Circulating Legal Tender" (NCLT) and not bullion because they are issued at prices much higher than their bullion value and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic or sentimental value, and not at bullion investors.

The Mint says about this coin:
St. Vitus oversees above the dancers and comedians, is symbolised by a rooster and protects against snakebites, dog bites, lightning and storms. For us, however, he is above all one of the most important patrons of the Czech country and the city of Prague! To this saint is dedicated one of Europe's most majestic cathedrals.

St. Vitus, according to the legend, was born around 293 in Sicily as the son of a pagan, Hylas. When he was seven years old, his nanny Cescentie with her husband Modesto converted him to Christianity. When he was twelve, the emperor Diocletian in Rome began the infamous persecution of Christians. Vitus thus became a threat for the whole family. Therefore Hylas, after pressure from the imperial deputy Valerian, gave his son to the Roman authorities. Even after whipping, he did not renounced his faith. Fortuitously, he along with the nanny and her husband, managed to escape from the captivity back to Sicily in a small boat. But they did not escape for long - they were arrested and Vitus was tortured again. After being thrown into a kettle of a boiling water, according to the legend, however, he emerged unscathed. He was thrown even to a lion, but instead of devouring him, he licked his feet. Eventually Saint Vitus was decapitated, due to his unwillingness to give up his religion. His sacrament the Christian world commemorates on June 15th.