Sunday, November 25, 2012

2012 New Zealand Silver Currency Set


Highlights:
 
  • New Zealand silver proof coin set with a gold-plated ten cent coin
  • Each of the five currency coins is uniquely dated 2012
  • Worldwide mintage limit: 1,000 sets
 
The five iconic designs in this silver proof coins set are:

New Zealand ten cents
 
The ten cent coin is pure silver with gold plating and features a Māori carved head or ‘koruru’ with Māori rafter patterns. Koruru are usually mounted on the gables of wharenui (meeting houses) and are referred to as ‘The guardians of the house’.

New Zealand twenty cents

The Māori carving shown on the 20 cent coin is a reproduction of a specific carving of an 18th century Māori warrior leader called Pukaki, who was a rangatira (chief) of the Ngāti Whakaue iwi of Te Arawa in the Rotorua district. The carving was made in 1836 and today it can be viewed in the entrance to the Rotorua District Council building. The edging of this coin is distinctive and known
as ‘Spanish flower’.

New Zealand fifty cents

 The design on the 50 cent coin shows the Endeavour sailing south with Mount Taranaki (Egmont) in the distance. The Endeavour was a British Royal Navy research vessel commanded by Lieutenant James Cook on his first voyage of discovery, to Australia and New Zealand from 1769 to 1771.

New Zealand one dollar

New Zealand’s national bird and beloved icon, the kiwi, appears on the $1 coin. This small, flightless bird has been in New Zealand for more than 60 million years, and is largely nocturnal. It has become so much a part of New Zealand’s national identity that New Zealanders overseas (and at home) colloquially refer to themselves as ‘Kiwis’.

New Zealand two dollars

The kotuku (white heron) is shown on the $2 coin. It is one of New Zealand’s rarest birds and is held in particularly high regard in Māori mythology. Kotuku have figured prominently in Māori legend as exemplars of rarity, grace and beauty, and as inhabitants of the spirit world.

New Zealand two dollars (NZD $2)

Composition: Silver proof (0.999)
Weight: 14.12g
Diameter: 26.50mm
Edge treatment: Milled with a channel with ten raised beads
Shape: Round
Obverse design: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, England
Reverse design: The kotuku (white heron) flying right
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint

New Zealand one dollar (NZD $1)
Composition: Silver proof (0.999)
Weight: 10.73g
Diameter: 23.00mm
Edge treatment: Eight alternate segments, four milled and four plain
Shape: Round
Obverse design: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, England
Reverse design: The kiwi, bringing to reality the colloquial term 'Kiwi Dollar'
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint

New Zealand 50 cents
Composition: Silver proof (0.999)
Weight: 6.59g
Diameter: 24.75mm
Edge treatment: Un-milled
Shape: Round
Obverse design: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley England
Reverse design: The Endeavour sailing south with Mount Taranaki (Egmont) in the distance
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint

New Zealand 20 cents
Composition: Silver proof (0.999)
Weight: 5.30g
Diameter: 21.75mm
Edge treatment: Spanish flower
Shape: Round
Obverse design: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, England
Reverse design: Māori 'pukai' carving
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint

New Zealand 10 cents
Composition: Silver proof (0.999), Gold Plated
Weight: 4.37g
Diameter: 20.50mm
Edge treatment: Un-milled
Shape: Round
Obverse design: Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, England
Reverse design: Māori carved head or koruru
Mint: Royal Dutch Mint



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Star Wars Series Two: One Ounce Silver Legal Tender Coins

 
Anakin Skywalker

The Jedi Order discovered Anakin Skywalker as a slave boy on Tatooine. He had the potential to be the most powerful Force-user ever, and perhaps was even the Chosen One of an ancient Jedi prophecy. Apprenticed to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin was a headstrong and challenging Padawan learner. Despite the strict rules of the Jedi Code, he fell in love with and secretly married Senator Padmé Amidala.
At the onset of the Clone Wars, the Jedi Council quickly promoted him to Jedi Knight. A daring pilot and a skilled warrior, Anakin's confidence is his greatest asset, and, at times, also his greatest liability. In an effort to teach him responsibility, Master Yoda gave Anakin a Padawan learner: young Ahsoka Tano. Though their relationship was stormy at first, Anakin and his apprentice quickly found a common ground.

 
Darth Maul
 
Darth Maul began life as one of the Nightbrothers on Dathomir. Darth Sidious brutally trained his apprentice to be a weapon of the Sith as well as a scheming mastermind. A relentless and acrobatic warrior with an extremely dangerous double-ended lightsaber, Maul longed for revenge against the Jedi, to destroy the Order and restore power to the Sith. Defeated at the Battle of Naboo, Maul disappeared from the galaxy for over a decade before reemerging as a new threat during the Clone Wars.
 
 
 
Padme Amidala
 
An idealist during a time of corruption and war in the Republic, Padmé Amidala was determined to fix what wrongs she could in the Senate, where she represented her idyllic home planet of Naboo. Despite her busy career, Padmé found time for a secret, forbidden marriage with Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi hero of the Clone Wars. Though not a soldier, Padmé nonetheless found herself often in the thick of danger as she courageously defended her deepest held beliefs.
 
An idealist during a time of corruption and war in the Republic, Padmé Amidala was determined to fix what wrongs she could in the Senate, where she represented her idyllic home planet of Naboo. Despite her busy career, Padmé found time for a secret, forbidden marriage with Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi hero of the Clone Wars. Though not a soldier, Padmé nonetheless found herself often in the thick of danger as she courageously defended her deepest held beliefs.
 
 
 
Yoda
 
The Grand Master of the Jedi Council, Yoda has trained Jedi for over 800 years. He is wise and powerful in the ways of the Force, though his small size causes many to underestimate him. Yoda prefers meditation and reflection, spending much time pondering the mysteries of the Force.

In his long lifetime, he has witnessed the decay of the Galactic Republic, and saw the Jedi Order transform from peacekeepers to battlefield commanders in the Clone Wars. When he must, Yoda wields his lightsaber and becomes a whirling warrior of great speed and agility. A stern instructor, Yoda nonetheless has a mischievous sense of humor. With the rise of the Galactic Empire, Yoda fled into exile and awaited the arrival of a new Jedi student to rekindle a new hope in the galaxy.


About the 2nd Series Design

Following the success of the first release of Star Wars coins, New Zealand Mint is proud to launch the limited mintage second series. Housed in either the hugely popular Darth Vader head or Millennium Falcon ship, these coins will be a must have edition for all Star Wars devotees and coin-collectors alike.

Reverse Design

The four 1oz 999 silver coins available in this series feature a full coloured image of four iconic characters from the movies - Anakin Skywalker, Queen Amidala, Yoda and Darth Maul.

Obverse Design

The obverse of the coin features The Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II.

Limited Mintage

Each coin in the Star Wars set is struck from 1oz of fine 999 silver. No more than 7,500 of each coin will be issued by the New Zealand Mint. The coins are legal tender of Niue Island. Please note the 4 coins will be available to purchase in either the Darth Vader or Millennium Falcon packaging however the total mintage for the coins is 7,500 per coin.

Packaging

The silver coin series will be packaged in both the popular Darth Vader head and the Millennium Falcon ship. Open the Darth Vader case and hear authentic movie sound effects of Darth Vader breathing. Open the Millennium Falcon case and hear authentic movie sound effects of the ship’s iconic “jump to light speed”.

Authenticity

Each Star Wars set comes with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity issued by New Zealand Mint.