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.
This coin is part of the Dog Breeds series of coloured silver coins by the Czech Mint, and features the Bernese Mountain Dog.
The mint says about it:
As its name suggests, the Swiss canton of Bern is considered to be the cradle of the Bernese mountain dog. In the past, this versatile working breed herded cattle, guarded farms and served people who could not afford horses to pull carts and carry loads to markets. Today, these tri-coloured giants are primarily popular pets, eager to please their owner. Their muscular body with strong limbs inspires respect, but in reality they have a calm nature and a positive attitude towards life. They love being outdoors due to their farming origins. They are particularly fond of the snow and, like another Swiss breed - the St. Bernard - they can search for people lost in snowdrifts and under avalanches. |
| Obverse | |
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In a small oval in the upper part of the obverse, 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 initials of the artist, IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
The rest of the central part of the obverse shows human and dog footprints on the ground. The designer's initials MD (for Martin Dašek) are below and to the right of the oval containing the Queen's portrait. On its left, the mint mark of the Czech Mint - a crowned monogram of the letters ČM (Česká mincovna).
Around the rim, the monarch's legend, face value and date of issue: NIUE ISLAND ELIZABETH II - 1 DOLLAR - 2022 -. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse side of the coin shows two depictions of a Bernese mountain dog. The first is coloured, thus making the black-brown-white coat of the dog stand out. The second, which is in relief, presents the dog at a mountain shepherd´s hut.
Around above, the name of the breed in Czech: BERNSKÝ SALAŠNICKÝ PES; around below left, the same in English: BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG. |
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