Coin | Silver Thirty-five Grams 2018 Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back |
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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 coins under the authority of Niue. Most of these are in standard shapes and sizes, but some - like these silver foils - use different formats. The 35 gram silver foils are very thin, so that they can be large in surface, and are issued with poster-like coloured reverses. The are "Non-Circulating Legal Tender" (NCLT) and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic or sentimental value.
The Mint says about this coin: Licensed by Disney, the Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - Premium 35g Silver Foil precious metal poster is brought to life through the use of both colour and engraving. Made from 35g fine silver, this collectible is presented in a clever acrylic holder which frames the foil and allows for easy display. It arrives packaged inside a complementary themed envelope, with the Certificate of Authenticity printed on the outside. |
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Obverse | |
The obverse of the coin shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In tiny letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend, the date of issue and the value: ELIZABETH II NIUE TWO DOLLARS 2018.
The effigy and inscription are very small, and are surrounded by a geometric motif and thin lines spiralling out. The rest of the obverse is covered with small logos of the New Zealand Mint (NEW ZEALAND MINT on two lines, above which the stars of the Southern Cross constellation), as a sort of mint mark. |
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Reverse | |
The reverse is coloured and features a replica image of the original poster for the 1980 hit sequel Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, with a large inscription on top reading THE STAR WARS SAGA CONTINUES, and the STAR WARS THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK logo below.
In tiny letters below right, the copyright acknowledgement © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd.. |
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Reverse Inscription |
THE STAR WARS SAGA CONTINUES STAR WARS THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK |
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Edge | Thin | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 1.125 Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated, coloured. Packaging: in acrylic block and illustrated cardboard box. |
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