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10 Dollars - Elizabeth II Shark vs. Crocodile
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2022 |
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| Technique | Milled |
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|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | ELIZABETH II · NIUE 2022 · TEN DOLLARS IRB · 5OZ 999 SILVER · |
| Reverse description | Dynamic high-relief composition depicting a confrontation between a great white shark and a crocodile in an underwater setting. The crocodile, rendered with exceptional scaly texture, dominates the upper portion with jaws agape, while the shark surges upward from the lower field with mouth open to reveal serrated teeth, both animals rendered in contrasting unplated silver relief against the gold-plated background. Surrounding the central confrontation, the gold-plated field features detailed aquatic elements including small fish, air bubbles, coral formations, and seaweed along the lower exergue, creating a vivid sense of depth and motion. The selective gold plating technique provides a striking two-tone contrast between the predators and their aquatic environment. |
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| Additional information |
Niue has functioned as a prolific vehicle for novelty bullion issues since the 1990s, licensing its sovereign coining authority to private minting operations — primarily the New Zealand Mint — that produce collector pieces with no meaningful domestic circulation. This "Shark vs. Crocodile" release belongs to a broader series pitting predatory animals against one another, a format that has proven commercially durable in the colored silver market despite offering nothing in the way of numismatic depth.
At 155.5 grams, the piece is a five-troy-ounce format. The gold plating is applied selectively to differentiate the two animals, a technique the New Zealand Mint has used across several competing-predators series since roughly 2019.