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2 Dollars - Elizabeth II Housefly
| Issuer | Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 2 Dollars |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The effigy of Queen Elizabeth II faces right, rendered in high relief within a central oval cartouche, depicting the third portrait by Raphael David Maklouf showing the Queen wearing the royal diadem crown and a pearl necklace with drop earrings. The surrounding oval field is polished and bordered by a raised rim bearing the legend ELIZABETH II · 2014 · NIUE ISLAND distributed across the upper arc, with the denomination 2 DOLLARS inscribed along the lower arc. The engraver's initials RDM appear discreetly below the truncation of the bust. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | An extreme close-up, photorealistic colorized depiction of the head of a common housefly (Musca domestica) fills the entire oval flan, rendered in vivid full-color printing. The large, multifaceted compound eye dominates the right portion of the design in rich amber-brown tones, its intricate ommatidial lattice pattern rendered in precise detail. To the left, the fly's thorax, mouthparts, and coarse setae are depicted in naturalistic earth tones against a vibrant green background with radiating highlights, creating a dramatic macro-photography aesthetic that emphasizes the alien complexity of the insect's anatomy. No legends or inscriptions appear on the reverse. |
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| Additional information |
Niue's licensing arrangement with the New Zealand Mint has produced a long-running stream of novelty bullion issues — insects, animals, pop culture — sold almost exclusively to collectors rather than circulated. This housefly piece is part of that program. The KM reference places it firmly in the catalog, but no housefly coin has ever bought anything on the island.