Marco Polo 2oz Silver Coin - Journeys Of Discovery

Marco Polo 2oz Silver Coin - Journeys Of Discovery

The Marco Polo 2 oz Silver Coin marks the first release in our new Journeys of Discovery Coin Collection, which celebrates exploration and discovery of the unknown.

This proof quality, fully engraved and high-relief coin captures the moment of Marco Polo meeting the great Kublai Khan. The scene is set in a stronghold of the powerful Mongol Empire which Polo marvelled so much at discovering. The packaging of a protective draw string sack has been designed to model the transport materials to trade around the globe at that time.

With a limited mintage of only 2,000 coins worldwide, this would make a special gift for coin collectors and inspire intrepid travellers on their own Journeys of Discovery.

*Please note that the image shown on the website is artwork and may differ slightly from the final product.

Marco Polo:

Marco Polo (1254 - 1324) was an Italian merchant traveller from Venice, who recorded his travels in Livres des Merveilles du Monde (Book of the Marvels of the World, also known as The Travels of Marco Polo). This account did much to introduce Europe to Central Asia and Chinese culture.

Marco Polo learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle, who travelled through Asia and met Kublai Khan. In 1271, the three embarked on a journey which would lead to 17 years spent in China. From his travels, Polo amassed great knowledge of the Mongol Empire. He marvelled at the use of paper money, and was in awe of its economy and scale of production.

Soon after returning to Venice in 1295, war broke out with the rival city of Genoa. While in command of a ship, Polo was captured and imprisoned. It was during this period of time that he dictated stories of his travels to a cellmate. In 1299 he was released, and went on to become a wealthy merchant. While his writings were published in French, Italian, and Latin, few readers allowed themselves to believe his tales of strange lands far away.

Although he was not the first European to reach China, Marco Polo’s detailed account of his experiences was ground breaking for its time. These writings went on to inspire Christopher Columbus and many other travellers. In the centuries since his death Marco Polo has received recognition that was not given during his lifetime, as much of his journey of discovery has been verified.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Coin Metal: 999 Fine Silver
• Coin Weight: 2 oz
• Coin Finish: Proof
• Coin Diameter: 40mm (Nominal)
• Coin Edge: Milled
• Coin Denomination: $5
• Year of Issue: 2015
• Coin Mintage: 2,000
• Effigy : Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• Country of Issue : Niue

Purchase at the NZMint

Birds of the Pacific Islands 1oz Silver Three Coin Set

 

About the Birds of Pacific Islands 3 x 1 oz Silver Coin Set

 

There are between 20,000 and 30,000 islands situated throughout the Pacific Ocean.

 

The existence of so many islands has created enormous opportunities for evolutionary development due to selective breeding. The result is a fantastic array of birdlife on islands throughout the Pacific, where birds have evolved into slightly different forms resulting in unique and endemic species.

 

New Zealand Mint is releasing this beautiful three Coin Set to celebrate these iconic birds of the Pacific.

 

Reverse Designs

Niue: This coin face features a high quality colour image of the Pacific Pigeon, Ducula pacifica, or ‘Lupe’ in Niuean.

 

This bird is generally acknowledged to be the most widely recognised endemic bird species on Niue. To its left is the Fiti Pua, Fagraea berteroana, the flower of Niue, and the Niuean coat of arms.

 

Fiji:  This coin face features the vibrant colours of the Collared Lory, Phigys solitaries, the National bird of Fiji.

 

Also featured is the native Tagimoucia Flower, Medinilla waterhousei, endemic to the highland rainforests of the Fijian Islands, only growing at an altitude of over 600 metres (656 yards). Above this is the official Fijian National Coat of Arms.

 

Pitcairn Island: 

This final coin features the Henderson Island Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus insularis, an iconic bird endemic to the Pitcairn Islands and listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.

 

Below this is the native Yellow Fautu, Abutilon pitcairnense, a critically endangered perennial plant once thought to be extinct until a single plant was discovered in 2003. All elements are set against a finely engraved Pacific Island background, flowing across all three coins and their timber surround.

 

Obverse Designs

Niue: Features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Fiji: Features the Fijian National Coat of Arms.

Pitcairn Island: Features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

 

Packaging

The Birds of the Pacific Islands 3 x 1 oz Silver Coin Set is packaged in a natural-looking wooden coin holder, displaying the 3 coins side by side. The coin holder sits inside a wooden inner case, which is decorated with pacific-style engravings. The inner case sits inside a pacific themed white outer packaging. A Certificate of Authenticity is displayed inside the inner packaging. 

 

 

Technical Specifications:

 

Metal 999 Fine Silver
Finish Proof / Coloured
Diameter 51 mm x 30 mm
Edge Plain
Denomination $2
Year of Issue 2013
Mintage 3,000
Weight1 Troy oz

Robert Falcon Scott One Ounce Silver Coin - New Zealand Mint

About The Coin:

This striking 1oz Silver coin commemorates the life and achievements of explorer and Royal Navy officer Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Scott led two expeditions to the Antarctic:  the Discovery Expedition (1901–04) and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition (1910–13).

Scotts status as a British hero has at times been called into question over the past century, however, his personal bravery and stoicism have won him a place in history.

The modern day Scott Base in Antarctica was named in his honour.

Reverse Design:

This depicts an engraved portrait of Captain Robert Falcon Scott set against an image of his ship, the Terra Nova in the icy waters of the Antarctic.

On the left of the coin is a final excerpt from Scott’s journal written on his ill fated Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole.

The coins border is engraved with a dedication to the bravery of Captain Scott in the words ‘to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield’ along with the years of Scott’s birth and death.

Obverse Design:

This features the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The coin is issued by New Zealand Mint as legal tender, under the authority of Niue Island.

Packaging:

This beautiful coin comes packaged in a wooden collector box, fashioned in the shape of a sea chest. 

Specifications:

Metal. 999
Finish Proof
Diameter 40.7mm
Edge Milled
Denomination $2
Year of Issue 2012
Mintage 5000
 

TRANSFORMERS One Ounce 999 Silver Two Coin Set - New Zealand Mint

About the Design:

'More that meets the eye'

New Zealand Mint is thrilled to launch one of the world’s most successful toy franchises as a legal tender coin set. 

With their ability to change in a moment from a car, airplane, truck, camera or stereo into a giant extraterrestrial robot, the TRANSFORMERS capture the imagination of both young and young at heart. This two coin set is beautiful presented in a TRANSFORMERS themed display cube.  Get your set today, and transform your collection.

Reverse Design:

Each coin dramatically depicts Optimus Prime and Megatron in high quality colour. These are set against an engraved relief background along with the iconic TRANSFORMERS logo.

Obverse Design:

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

Packaging:

The coins are presented in a TRANSFORMERS themed display cube featuring silver embossed Decepticon and Autobot insignias.

TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro & are used with permission. © 2012 Hasbro. Inc. All rights reserved.

Specifications:

Metal.999 Silver
FinishProof
Diameter40.7 mm
EdgeMilled
Denomination$2
Year of Issue2013
Mintage5,000

Giant Coconut Crab 1oz Silver - Pitcairn Islands Legal Tender Coin

Giant Coconut Crab 

1oz Silver This 2013 coin features a coloured image of the Giant Coconut Crab printed on the finely engraved silver background of a beach. Each coin is presented in a delightful coconut shaped case scented with a distinctive coconut oil fragrance.

The obverse of the coin features the Raphael Maklouf effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Giant Coconut Crab, also known as the robber crab or palm thief, is a species of terrestrial hermit crab and largest land-living arthropod in the world.

Found on islands across the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean, the species is widely reported to climb trees to pick coconuts, which it then opens to eat.

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

2012 Kiwi Treasures Silver Proof Coin

• The first silver proof coin in the new 'Kiwi Treasures' series
• Combines the kiwi with the native New Zealand kōwhai flower
• Worldwide mintage of 5,000

This 1oz silver proof coin has been made from fine 0.999 silver. The kōwhai branches and flowers, as well as the kiwi, are rendered in three-dimensional relief, providing a lovely tactile finish. The frosted effect of the kiwi contrasts beautifully with the polished effect of the kōwhai, resulting in a coin that displays the subjects at their beautiful best.

With a mintage of just 5,000, this $1 coin is sure to be popular.