2014 Hawksbill Turtle 1 oz Silver New Zealand Mint $2 Niue

This coin is a continuation of the silver Taku series from the New Zealand Mint that has grown tremendously in popularity in its brief existence. 

The coin combines the appeal of 1 oz of pure Silver with an elegant design that captures the beauty of the ocean! With a sleeker design and low mintages for bullion, these coins move very quickly.

Coin Highlights:

• Contains 1 oz of .999 fine Silver.
• Coins come packaged in protective plastic flips.
• Strict limited mintage of only 200,000 coins.
• Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
• Obverse: New stylized design of a Hawksbill turtle, also known as the Taku, swimming in shallow waters amidst tiny bubbles.
• Reverse: Effigy of Queen Elizabth II and 2014 date.
• Multiples of 20 will come in plastic tubes; individual coins will come in protective slips.
• Produced by the New Zealand Mint.

The Story:

Hawksbill turtles are found throughout the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Named for their narrow, pointed beak, they are also recognizable by a distinctive pattern of overlapping scales on their exquisitely colored and patterned shells. 

This species typically avoids deep waters, preferring coastlines and coral reefs where they can find sponges, a primary food source for these omnivores. Beautiful creatures, they make incredible migrations in order to move from feeding sites to tropical beaches that often serve as nesting grounds. 

Hawksbill turtles come to New Zealand every year from Fiji; although they’ve been sighted as far south as Cook Strait, they are mostly seen in the upper North Island of New Zealand in the clear, shallow waters of the island shelve. 

Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are a critically endangered species due mostly to human impact. Hawksbill eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and their stunning shells that are highly valuable in some marketplaces. 

A fantastically designed bullion item, this product has grown tremendously in popularity among investors in each of the four years that it’s been produced because of its intricate design.

New Zealand Mint:

The New Zealand Mint is a privately owned company in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the only privately owned mint in New Zealand, purchasing refined gold from international sources to produce coins. They have established their reputation over the past four decades for their high quality design as exhibited by their innovative commemorative gold and silver bullion products. 

The only precious metal mint in New Zealand, the mint uses the tag-line “Minters of the South Pacific” and produces collector and bullion coins for a number of pacific nations, including Fiji, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tuvalu.

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