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 is the first coin in the Goddesis Series, and features Themis (Temida), Goddess of Justice.
"If you have ever wondered where our innate sense of fairness and morality comes from, you can turn to Greek mythology for at least one answer. According to this classical tradition, our fundamental sense of right and wrong is bestowed upon us by Themis, Goddess of Justice. Themis also instructed the ancient Greeks on virtues such as piety and hospitality, while also offering useful guidance on the proper worship of deities." |
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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 small 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: NIUE ISLAND 2022 ELIZABETH II FIVE DOLLARS.
Around right, the hallmark Ag 999 (99.9% silver; "Ag" is abbreviated from Argentum, the Latin word for silver, and is internationally used to mark silver coins and jewellery), followed by the MW mint mark of the Mint of Poland (m over W), for Mennica Warszawska (Mint of Warsaw).
The rim is wide and decorated with floral motifs. |
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