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10 Dollars - Charles III Shaolin Kung Fu
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024 |
| Type | Collector coin |
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| Reverse description | An elaborate high-relief composition depicting five Shaolin monks executing kung fu stances derived from the five classical animal forms. In the upper field, two monks are shown in dynamic poses before a stylised Shaolin temple facade; the upper central field features a large bagua (eight trigrams) mandala with gold-toned elements surrounding a central yin-yang symbol. In the lower field, three monks demonstrate leopard, snake, and tiger forms alongside their respective animals rendered in fine detail, with a square cabochon jasper gemstone set at the centre. The curved legend 'SHAOLIN KUNG FU' appears along the lower periphery, with Chinese characters '少林寺' (Shaolin Temple) inscribed on the temple gate above. |
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| Reverse lettering | SHAOLIN KUNG FU 少林寺 |
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| Additional information |
Niue has operated as a prolific licensing vehicle for the New Zealand-administered coin program since the 1990s, issuing silver rounds under nominal Pacific sovereignty for collectors who would never see the island's 1,600 residents spend one. This piece is part of that machinery — a bullion-adjacent collectible whose legal tender status is strictly technical.
The jasper insert sources from China, a deliberate material choice tying the stone to its geographic subject. Jasper has been associated with protective and martial qualities in Chinese tradition for centuries, though whether that informed the mint's procurement decision or simply provided convenient copy is another matter.