| Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 LOTR - The Desolation of Smaug |
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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 famous movie characters.
This coin is the part of a series featuring coloured posters from the Lord of the Rings movies, and features The Desolation of Smaug.
The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug is the sequel to the three-part film adaptation of the 1937 novel "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien. Produced by director Peter Jackson, the blockbuster was released in cinemas in 2013. The story follows the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, who is persuaded by the wizard Gandalf to join a group of dwarfs to reclaim their stolen kingdom of Erebor from a fire-breathing dragon called Smaug. On their journey, they cross dangerous forests, caves and mountains while battling orcs and other vicious creatures of Middle Earth. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin features the official Public Seal of Niue.
It has an inner circle of hiapo designs, representing the fonua (land), within which are stylised designs of a tree, representing life and tagata Niue (the people of Niue), surrounded by an outer circle in the form of a traditional Niuean garland of 14 seashells (representing the 14 villages of Niue), and crowned with St Edward's Crown (of the United Kingdom), representing the sovereign as head of state.
Around above between the two circles, the inscription PUBLIC SEAL OF NIUE. Below, a ribbon carries the motto ATUA NIUE TUKULAGI on two lines (meaning "God, Niue Eternally"), below which two crossed katoua (Niue fighting clubs).
Around above, the face value TWO DOLLARS. Around below, the year of issue 2023. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse shows, in full colour, the theatrical poster for "The Desolation of Smaug", a film in the Lord of the Rings saga.
In the lower part, the logo THE HOBBIT THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG.
For contrast, the film’s logo is engraved and frosted and shows the original silver surface of the coin, and not colour.
Near the rim below the poster, on the left the copyright acknowledgement © & TM New Line Production Inc. (s23), and on the right the precious metal content 1 oz 999 Fine Silver (one troy ounce of 99.9% silver). |
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| Reverse Inscription |
THE HOBBIT THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG © & TM New Line Production Inc. (s23) 1 oz 999 Fine Silver |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: in acrylic display block, boxed in a theme box, with numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Release date: 21 July 2023.
Release price: US$ 105.00 |
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| See also |
Coloured rectangular coins featuring Lord of the Rings posters:
- 1 oz Silver, The Fellowship of the Ring, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, The Two Towers, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, The Return of the King, 2022
- 1 oz Silver, The Hobbit, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, The Desolation of Smaug, 2023
- 1 oz Silver, The Battle of the Five Armies, 2023
Coins with a Lord of the Rings theme issued for Niue in 2023:
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Sauron
- 1/4 oz Gold, Mordor
- 1/4 oz Gold, Argonath
- 3 oz Silver Antique, Mordor
- 3 oz Silver Antique, Argonath
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Sauron
- 1 oz Silver Antique, Mordor
- 1 oz Silver Antique, Argonath
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Rectangle (Poster), The Hobbit
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Rectangle (Poster), The Desolation of Smaug
- 1 oz Silver Coloured Rectangle (Poster), The Battle of the Five Armies
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