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2 Dollars - Elizabeth II Camera Obscura
| Issuer | Government of the Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 2006 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 10 g |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features a rectangular relief reproduction of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce's 1826 heliograph, widely regarded as the world's oldest surviving photograph, depicting rooftops and courtyard structures as seen from an upper-storey window. Above the central image, the inscription 180 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHIE is arranged in two lines. The date span 1826 - 2006 appears in the lower field. Surrounding the design, the words CAMERA and OBSCURA are arranged in spaced capitals along the upper left and lower right arcs of the coin respectively, separated by bullet points. |
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| Additional information |
The camera obscura predates photography by centuries — Leonardo da Vinci documented its optical principles in the late 15th century, and by the 17th century portable versions were standard tools for artists tracing landscapes and architectural subjects. Cook Islands issued a run of themed silver pieces in the mid-2000s commemorating historical scientific instruments, of which this is one entry. The series leaned heavily toward European invention history, an unusual curatorial choice for a Pacific island territory.