Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race, Coin from Niue - detailed information

Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race, Coin from Niue
CoinSilver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race

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. Many of them are in standard bullion sizes - including this very large five ounces of silver format (abbreviated as 5 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum).

According to Chinese mythology, there was a big race that decided which animals were part of the zodiac and in which order. To finish the race and become one of the 12 animals in the calendar, the animals had to cross a river. This gilded coin struck from 5 ounces of 99.9% silver is dedicated to this "Great Lunar Race".

There are many varieties of the lunar animals origin story. Some say that the Jade Emperor called a race of animals on his birthday to create the Chinese Zodiac. Others say that it was the Buddha who called the race. Both stories are similar with minor variations. Twelve animals were to become symbols of the Chinese Zodiac and in order to secure their place, would race across a rapidly flowing river.

Although the worst swimmer, the rat was very smart. The ox had agreed to carry the rat across the river on its back, but as they reached the shore, the rat jumped off the ox and finished first. The ox was second, with the tiger in third. The Rabbit hopped from one stone to another and was doing well until he slipped. Fortunately, he grabbed onto a log and finished in fourth place. In fifth place came the dragon, who would been first but had stopped to help some villagers. On its way to the finish line the dragon saw the rabbit on the log and gave a puff of air to help it to shore. The horse looked set to finish sixth, but the snake slithered out of the long grass, scared the horse, and took sixth place instead.

The monkey, rooster and sheep found a raft and, working together, paddled through the strong currents and the weeds until they reached the shore. The sheep came in eighth place, the monkey in ninth, and the rooster in tenth. The dog had been too busy splashing in the fresh water, and finished in eleventh place. The pig was the last animal to cross the line as it had stopped to eat and fallen asleep. Thus it was decided which animals would form the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac, and in what order.

MintPAMP Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 888
Obverse
Niue / Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race - obverse photo

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 2021 · 8 DOLLARS · 5 OZ 999 SILVER ·.

The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content. "5 OZ 999 SILVER" means "five troy ounces of 99.9% silver".

The Queen's portrait is silver; the rest of the obverse is selectively gold plated.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II · NIUE 2021 · 8 DOLLARS · 5 OZ 999 SILVER ·
Reverse
Niue / Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race - reverse photo

The reverse design represents the Great Lunar Race which is the basis of the 12-year Chinese Lunar Calendar cycle, showing its twelve animals - rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig - racing across a river.

There is no inscription. The figures of the animals are silver; the rest of the design is selectively gold plated.

Reverse Inscription (none)
EdgeMilled interrupted, with serial number on plain sectionEdge Inscription[unique serial number]
Notes

Finish: proof, selectively plated with 24-carat gold.
Packaging: in wooden presentation box with illustrated outer shipper, with numbered Certificate of Authenticity matching the number on the edge of the coin.
Issue price: AU$ 595.00

There is no primary information available about this coin; it seems that the coin was commissioned by Australian company Downies and struck by PAMP.

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Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Details
CountryNiue
CurrencyNiue Dollar
Coin TypeSilver Five Ounces (5 oz)
Issued2021
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
Face Value8 (x Dollar)
Total Mintage888
CurrentYes
Material0.999 Silver
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size65.0000 mm
Mass155.5330 g
OCC IDWMRA-EQPC-RRWJ-OYPL
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Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photos
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Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source
Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race: Photo Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race / thumbnail Coin, Niue, Silver Five Ounces 2021 The Great Lunar Race
Copyright: EMK
Source