| Coin | Silver Ounce 2016 Star Trek - Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock |
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The Tuvaluan Dollar is the currency of Tuvalu - a small nation in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu has never had banknotes of its own, and has been issuing coins since 1976; these circulate together with coins of the Australian Dollar, which is also legal tender in the country, and to which the Tuvaluan Dollar is pegged.
The Australian Perth Mint issues a large variety of non-circulating legal tender coins under the authority of Tuvalu. Some of these are in the silver ounce format (abbreviated as 1 oz). Strictly speaking, they are not bullion as they are priced at a premium and are targeted at collectors who appreciate them for their artistic merit and collectable value and not just for their precious metal content.
This coin is part of a Perth Mint series of coloured one-ounce silver coins depicting Star Trek characters, and features the two main characters Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy). It was issued on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek series.
The Mint says about it:
Since its debut, Star Trek has developed into a cultural phenomenon with a range of spin-off television series and a number of feature films being released over the past five decades. The series explored a variety of societal themes and issues including a Utopian society, war and peace, imperialism, economics, racial equality, religion, human rights, feminism, and the role of technology. |
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| Obverse | |
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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: QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1 OZ 999 SILVER 2016 TUVALU 1 DOLLAR.
The inscription around the rim also incorporates the precious metal content, meaning one troy ounce of 99.9% silver. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin is coloured and depicts two of the main characters in the Star Trek series, Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Above them, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 starship; in the background, planets.
Below the figures, the inscription STAR TREK ™, below which the anniversary dates 1966 - 2016.
Around below right, the copyright and trademark acknowledgement: TM & © 2016 CBS. ARR., above which the Star Trek 50th anniversary logo, with the number 50 inscribed on the Star Trek logo's delta shape.
The Perth Mint's P mint mark is below left. The face value and date of issue are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
STAR TREK 1966 - 2016 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: proof, coloured.
Packaging: in presentation box with illustrated outer shipper, and a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (5,000 coins), or in two-coin set (1,500 coins). |
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