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 premium bullion coin struck from one ounce of 99.9% silver is part of a long-running New Zealand Mint range featuring Star Wars characters, and depicts Luke Skywalker.
The mint says about it: "Star Wars: the original trilogy.
In 1977, a galaxy far, far away came hurtling into ours, forever altering the cinematic universe and embedding itself deep within the cultural fabric of generations. The original Star Wars trilogy - A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi - was not merely a trio of space adventures; it was a modern myth, a sweeping saga that redefined storytelling through the lens of the classic hero’s journey.
At its heart, the Star Wars trilogy is the timeless journey of a farm boy who becomes a savior. Luke Skywalker’s path - marked by prophecy, loss, transformation, and redemption - mirrors Joseph Campbell’s monomyth with poetic precision. Guided by mentors like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, facing insurmountable odds, and ultimately confronting the shadow of his own lineage, Luke's evolution encapsulates the universal longing for meaning, identity, and purpose.
Yet Star Wars did more than mirror myth - it gave it lasers, lightsabers, and a galaxy teeming with rebels, rogues, and redemption.
Few narratives have captured the archetypal battle between good and evil with such resonance. The cold, mechanical menace of Darth Vader, the Emperor’s insidious grip on the galaxy, and the defiant spark of the Rebel Alliance all painted a stark yet emotionally complex picture of resistance against tyranny. Through Leia’s fierce leadership, Han’s reluctant heroism, and the unshakable hope in Luke’s eyes, we are reminded that even in the darkest times, light endures. |
Obverse | |
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 date of issue 2025. |
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