Silver Thirty-five Grams 2021 Lord of the Rings - Middle Earth, 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 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.

This unique map of Middle Earth is made from 35g pure silver and is a legal tender coin featuring the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

The Middle Earth map was one of the key components of J.R.R. Tolkien’s (1892 - 1973) The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It shows the imaginary world in which the story is set. This officially licensed map is printed in colour onto the pure silver, which has been rolled flat. For contrast, the sea has been engraved and left uncoloured, along with the place names which sparkle as the light moves across the map!

The foil arrives in a custom-made themed carrier and is protected by an acrylic capsule - to display both sides beautifully. Details of the coin’s authenticity are printed on the carrier along with confirmation of its unique number in the mintage which is limited to 2,000 worldwide.