| Coin | Silver Two Ounces 2018 John the Baptist |
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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 - for example, two ounces of silver (abbreviated as 2 oz Ag, where "Ag" comes from the Latin word for silver, Argentum). Many of these features characters and themes from legends, mythology or religion, such as this one.
This coin is part of the Biblical Series by Scottsdale Mint and features the death of John the Baptist. The designs of the series are based on Bible illustrations in Romanticism style by the famous French artist Gustave Doré (1832 - 1883).
John the Baptist was a Jewish itinerant preacher in the early 1st century AD. Other titles for John include John the Forerunner in Eastern Christianity, John the Immerser in some Baptist traditions, and the prophet John (Yaḥyā) in Islam. John the Baptist is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels and the non-canonical Gospel of the Nazarenes. The Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) describe John baptising Jesus; in the Gospel of John this is implied. According to the New Testament, John was sentenced to death and subsequently beheaded by Herod Antipas sometime around AD 30 after John rebuked him for divorcing his wife, Phasaelis, and then unlawfully wedding Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip I.
The coin has a Proof-Antiqued finish and comes in a Bible Gift Box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity with the number matching the serial number inscribed on the edge of the coin. The designs on both sides are "rimless" (there is no border around them, so the design can extend to the edge of the coin). |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows at its centre the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a pearl necklace, facing right (her effigy known as the "Third Portrait", by Raphael David Maklouf).
The designer's initials are usually incuse in tiny letters on the neck truncation when this portrait is used, but they are not displayed here.
Around above, the monarch's legend: QUEEN ELIZABETH II. Around left, the country name and the face value: NIUE TWO DOLLARS. Around right, the precious metal content: 2 oz 999 FINE SILVER (two ounces of 99.9% silver).
Around below, the date of issue 2018. |
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| Reverse | |
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The Gospel of Mark describes how Herodias's (unnamed) daughter dances before Herod, who is pleased and offers her anything she asks for in return. When the girl asks her mother what she should request, she is told to demand the head of John the Baptist. Reluctantly, Herod orders the beheading of John, and his head is delivered to her, at her request, on a plate. The Jewish historian Josephus says that Herodias had a daughter by the name of Salome, so the story is usually connected to her.
The reverse of the coin shows Salome receiving the severed head of John the Baptist on a plate, carried by an armoured guard. The design is based on Gustave Doré's engraving "The Daughter of Herod Receiving the Head of John the Baptist".
Around above right, the inscription reads: JOHN THE BAPTIST. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
JOHN THE BAPTIST |
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| Edge | Plain, inscribed | Edge Inscription | [serial number] |
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| See also |
Coins in the Biblical Series include:
- 2 oz Silver, Adam and Eve, 2016
- 2 oz Silver, The Death of Abel, 2017
- 2 oz Silver, Destruction of Leviathan, 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Jacob Wrestles the Angel, 2017
- 2 oz Silver, Noah's Dove, 2018
- 2 oz Silver, Samson Slays the Lion, 2019
- 2 oz Silver, Samson and the Gates of Gaza, 2022
- 2 oz Silver, Death of Samson, 2021
- 2 oz Silver, Moses on the Nile, 2019
- 2 oz Silver, Exodus, 2015
- 2 oz Silver, The Firstborn Slain, 2019
- 2 oz Silver, The Ten Commandments, 2015
- 2 oz Silver, Chariot of Fire, 2018
- 2 oz Silver, David and Goliath, 2015
- 2 oz Silver, Rebuilding The Jerusalem Temple, 2021
- 2 oz Silver, Ezekiel's Vision, 2016
- 2 oz Silver, The Fiery Furnace, 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Daniel in the Lion's Den, 2016
- 2 oz Silver, Birth of Jesus, 2016
- 2 oz Silver, The Three Wise Men, 2017
- 2 oz Silver, Baptism of Jesus, 2017
- 2 oz Silver, Temptation of Jesus, 2018
- 2 oz Silver, John the Baptist, 2018
- 2 oz Silver, The Good Samaritan, 2016
- 2 oz Silver, Cast the First Stone, 2019
- 2 oz Silver, Jesus Calms the Sea, 2017
- 2 oz Silver, Jesus Walking on the Sea, 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Jesus in the Synagogue, 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Cleansing The Temple, 2022
- 2 oz Silver, Resurrection of Lazarus, 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Jesus Praying in the Garden, 2021
- 2 oz Silver, The Transfiguration of Jesus, 2021
- 2 oz Silver, The Last Supper, 2016
- 2 oz Silver, The Judas Kiss, 2020
- 2 oz Silver, Jesus Delivered to be Crucified, 2021
- 2 oz Silver, Crown of Thorns, 2019
- 2 oz Silver, Jesus Scourged, 2018
- 2 oz Silver, Nailing Christ to the Cross, 2017
- 2 oz Silver, The Crucifixion, 2015
- 2 oz Silver, The Dead Christ, 2022
- 2 oz Silver, The Ascension, 2018
- 2 oz Silver, Descent of the Spirit, 2022
- 2 oz Silver, Saint Paul Shipwrecked, 2021
- 2 oz Silver, The New Jerusalem, 2015
- 2 oz Silver, The Crowned Virgin, 2019
- 2 oz Silver, The Pale Horse, 2015
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