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2 Dollars - Elizabeth II Minotaur
| Issuer | Government of Niue |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 31.1 g |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a bold, high-relief sculptural depiction of the Minotaur, the fearsome creature of Greek mythology with the body of a man and the head of a bull, rendered in an aggressive crouching stance with clawed hands raised and jaws open in a snarl. The beast is set within a labyrinthine environment, with ancient stone walls and archways flanking the figure on either side, and a dark mirror-polished field behind suggesting the shadowed depths of the labyrinth. The ground is detailed with worn stone paving. The inscription '1 oz 999 FINE SILVER' appears along the lower exergual border in small incuse lettering. |
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Niue's legal tender coinage program is essentially a licensing operation — the island issues coins under New Zealand monetary authority but retains none in circulation, functioning instead as a vehicle for international bullion and collector markets. The Minotaur piece belongs to a broader mythology series produced in collaboration with the New Zealand Mint, which has handled Niue's commemorative output for years.
The Minotaur of Greek myth was imprisoned in a labyrinth beneath Knossos by King Minos — its existence a dynastic secret, its feeding a political instrument used to humiliate Athens through annual tribute.