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25 Dollars - Charles III The Lion
| Issuer | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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| Obverse description | At center, a raised circular medallion bears the right-facing effigy of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a tiara, with the legend ELIZABETH II arcing to the left and COOK ISLANDS to the right, and the denomination 25 DOLLARS above and the date 2023 below. The medallion is set within a highly sculptural field depicting multiple lion heads in high relief, rendered in a dynamic, radiating composition with their manes merging into an elaborate background of interlocking Maori-inspired scrollwork and Celtic knotwork patterns. The miniature engraver's initials IRB appear on the truncation of the Queen's effigy. The entire design is executed in .9999 fine gold with frosted relief elements contrasting against the burnished field. |
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| Reverse lettering | KING OF THE SOUTH |
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| Additional information |
Charles III's formal accession coinage presented minting authorities worldwide with an unusual logistical problem: the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022 triggered simultaneous commemorative programs across dozens of Commonwealth jurisdictions, all competing for refined gold allocation and die production capacity within the same fiscal quarter. Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, issues its own currency but relies on outside minting houses — likely Scottsdale or a European contractor — to fulfil gold bullion programs of this type.
The "Lion" designation references the specific release within a broader royal series, not a standalone issue.