Silver Ounce 2024 Mandalorian - Beskar Bar, 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 bullion silver bar continues the New Zealand Mint's Star Wars - Mandalorian theme, and represents a Beskar Bar (or a Beskar Ingot). It is the fourt issue in this format, the first being in 2021.

The mint says about it:
"This officially licensed Star Wars - Mandalorian Antique finish coin was struck from one ounce of 99.9% silver and replicates an ingot of Mandalorian iron. The coin features the characteristic wave shape that Beskar ingots are stamped with, and also includes the logo of the Galactic Empire. The obverse features the Niue Coat of Arms as well as the denomination, year of issue, weight, fineness and official copyright.

The legendary Beskar alloy, known also as Mandalorian iron, is highly prized throughout the galaxy for its extreme strength and durability. Developed on Mandalore for its warriors as a powerful armor, it can withstand blasters and even resist a lightsaber's strike. In addition to its extraordinary resilience, Beskar can be shaped according to a warrior's desires and so proves quite versatile. In ingot form, this precious metal is melted down into bars featuring a wavy surface that is then stamped with the Galactic Imperial Crest for authentication. So valuable and versatile is Beskar that in ingot form they are used as a convenient store of value or means of exchange. Mandalorians have an almost religious connection to Beskar and believe it belongs only in the hands of their people. Now you can get your hands on it in a true precious metal form that will hold its value as both silver and as a unique collectible item."