Tokelau, known previously as the Tokelau Islands, is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It uses the New Zealand Dollar as circulation currency, but has been issuing a variety of non-circulating coins since 1978, and has also authorised some foreign mints to issue bullion coins under its jurisdiction.
Some of these are in the large silver kilogram format.
The mint says about this coin: The adventurous spirit of the American West, embodied in a new silver bullion coin, unmatched in its elegance. The dynamic illustration of a mustang galloping through the spacious landscapes of the Great Plains, returns in 1000 grams of 999 fine silver. Every detail of the composition stands out thanks to the high relief, proof-like quality, and the impressive diameter of 100 mm.
The motif captures the romance of the Old West, here embodied in the image of the mustang - descendants of purebred horses brought over to the New World by Spanish conquistadors around the 15th century. Those animals that managed to escape over the years formed feral herds. That way the species that had gone extinct on this continent around 8,000 - 10,000 years ago once again became part of the local wildlife and even a symbol of the Wild West itself.
The Mustang is depicted galloping through a breathtaking landscape, with striking rock formations in the background. The movement captured in the illustration emphasises the strength and beauty of this creature, and its mane - swept back by a powerful gust - hints both at its speed and the freedom it has come to represent. |