Niue has operated as a licensing vehicle for novelty coinage since the 1990s, issuing legal tender struck at overseas facilities under agreements that generate revenue for the island's government — which relies heavily on New Zealand financial support given a population under 2,000. Ms. PAC-MAN, introduced by Midway in 1981 as an unauthorized modification of the original Namco cabinet, became one of the best-selling arcade games in North American history precisely because Midway bypassed the standard licensing process entirely.
The coin was produced by the New Zealand Mint under Bandai Namco licensing.
Niue has operated as a licensing vehicle for novelty coinage since the 1990s, issuing legal tender struck at overseas facilities under agreements that generate revenue for the island's government — which relies heavily on New Zealand financial support given a population under 2,000. Ms. PAC-MAN, introduced by Midway in 1981 as an unauthorized modification of the original Namco cabinet, became one of the best-selling arcade games in North American history precisely because Midway bypassed the standard licensing process entirely.
The coin was produced by the New Zealand Mint under Bandai Namco licensing.