Silver Ounce 2018 Australia at Night - Platypus, 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, 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 - typically, one ounce of silver (abbreviated as 1 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). Many of these feature various animals.

The Platypus coin is the first design in the Australia at Night series of proof coins. The coin has a stylish black finish (probably rhodium plating).

Platypuses are amazing creatures, found only in Australia. They live beside freshwater rivers and lakes, where they create burrows for shelter and protection. Nocturnal creatures, they are most active at night. The platypus has a number of different Aboriginal names, including boondaburra, mallingong and tambreet. In traditional Australian culture, the platypus occupies a very special, almost sacred, role, and is one of the few animals that it is considered taboo to hunt or eat.

The bizarre appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they saw the first specimens from Australia - some even considered it an elaborate hoax! It is one of the few venomous mammals - the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the platypus make it an important subject in the study of evolutionary biology and a recognisable and iconic symbol of Australia; it has appeared as a mascot at national events and is featured on the reverse of the Australian 20 cent coin. The platypus is the animal emblem of the state of New South Wales; it is featured on the reverse of the Australian 20 Cents coin.