Silver Ounce 2022 Pac-Man - Ghost, 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 coins under the authority of Niue. Most of these are commemorative and collector issues 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). Those issued at prices much higher than their bullion value are separately listed in the Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) silver ounce section of the site.

Unlike them, this coin is targeted at bullion investors and was initially released at a price close to the value of its precious metal content.

This specially shaped and "stackable" silver coin is part of a range of coins featuring the cult video game Pac-Man.

The popular arcade game originated in Japan and was first released on May 22, 1980. The plot of the game revolves around the eponymous protagonist PAC-MAN - a yellow, puck-shaped character whose task is to eat dots in a maze. While doing so, he is pursued by four colourful ghosts with big eyes, from which he must escape.

The shape of the coin represents a "ghost" - in the game, a figure which chases the protagonist - as displayed on the low-resolution screens of the time. APMEX says about it:
"At 14 pixels high and 14 pixels wide, each Pac-Man Ghost shaped coin is the exact number of pixels according to the specifications provided by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. for the original 1980s classic arcade game! Each "pixel" is .116 inch by .116 inch. APMEX has brought this pixelated icon of gaming to life in full 3D for your silver stacking pleasure."

The main villains of the popular 1980s Pac-Man arcade game are as iconic as the main character himself. There are four different Ghost characters in the original game that the Pac-Man player must avoid while collecting all of the Pac-Dots. When Pac-Man eats a "power pellet", the ghosts turn dark blue and Pac-Man can then eat them for increasing point values. If Pac-Man ate every ghost prior to the power pellet running out, they would double in value from 200 to 400 to 800 and finally 1,600 points on the last ghost eaten. If a non-edible ghost touches Pac-Man, however, the player loses a life!

Who are the members of the "ghost gang"? Blinky, the leader of the ghosts, is quick and very persistent! Pinky looks cute, but do not be fooled! Pinky is second in command and lethal! Inky is fast but a bit shy. Clyde is the endless wanderer who likes to explore every corner of the maze! These colourful characters with their unique behaviours are a key part of what has made Pac-Man such an enjoyable game!