100 Dollars - Elizabeth II Owl

Niue's long-running relationship with the Perth Mint has produced a steady stream of high-relief gold issues, of which this owl belongs to a collector-driven series rather than any circulating monetary need — Niue's actual economy runs on the New Zealand dollar. The nominal face value bears no relation to bullion content, a legal fiction required to give the piece status as official coinage under Niuean law.

Perth's .999 one-troy-ounce format has become the de facto standard for this category of legal-tender bullion issue, competing directly with the Canadian Maple Leaf and Australian Kangaroo in the international wholesale market.