Coin | Silver Two Ounces 2022 Descent of the Spirit |
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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 Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel of Luke 24:48-49, Jesus tells the disciples: “And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4, we read: “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” These two readings illustrate the promise of Jesus to be present always in his church.
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).
The designs of the series are based on Bible illustrations in Romanticism style by the famous French artist Gustave Doré (1832 - 1883). |
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Obverse | |
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 2022. |
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Reverse | |
The reverse of the coin shows the Biblical scene of the Holy Ghost, in the form of tongues of fire, descending upon the twelve apostles and the Virgin Mary, fifty days after the death of Jesus Christ.
Around below, the inscription reads DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT.
The design is based on Gustave Doré's 1866 engraving by the same name. |
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Reverse Inscription |
DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT |
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Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: antique. Packaging: in special Bible-like box. Date of issue: December 2022. |
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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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