2 Dollars - Charles III Hawksbill Turtle

The hawksbill is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, with global populations estimated to have declined by over 80% in the last century, driven primarily by tortoiseshell trade and egg harvesting. Niue — whose government authorizes this issue through its arrangement with the New Zealand Mint — has designated portions of its surrounding waters as protected marine areas, giving the subject matter some jurisdictional grounding rather than purely commercial selection.

The Charles III obverse places this among the earliest years of his effigy appearing on Niue-authorized bullion issues.