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 coin is part of the Truth Coin Series, produced by SD Bullion since 2018 and struck by Sunshine Minting. The series initially consisted of a Roaring Lion of Judah design and a Tree of Life design, issued every year. To this, two new designs were added in 2022: the Ram of Calvary, and the Sword of Truth.
This design features a heraldic showcase of a Sword and Shield prominently featured in the middle. The Sword is simple yet imposing; the Shield sturdy and battle-tested. Surrounding the two is a stylised belt framing the coin with the weight and purity displayed. Around the rim is a striking weave of thorny vines, symbolizing a crown of thorns. At the very tip of the Sword is a snake which is barely visible to the naked eye. The Sword piercing a snake adds a compelling historical element which has ties to countless motifs from cultures throughout human history.
Something that may go unnoticed by some is the hidden “truth” featured on every coin, which is micro-engraved by the mint. This feature is a staple for every coin in the Truth series and adds value for many customers. For the new 2022 1 oz Silver Sword of Truth coin, a message that reads “The Sword of the Spirit” has been micro-engraved onto the hilt of the sword. Also seen on the shield is the Hebrew lettering “רוח קודש” which means “Holy Spirit”. |