1 Dollar - Elizabeth II Sputnik 1

Niue has operated as a prolific licensing vehicle for commemorative silver since the 1990s, contracting with the New Zealand Mint and others to produce collector pieces with little connection to the island's own history or economy. This Sputnik issue marks the 65th anniversary of the 1957 launch — the satellite completed its 1,440 orbits over 21 days before the transmitter batteries died, with the sphere itself reentering the atmosphere in January 1958.