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25 Dollars - Elizabeth II St Peter's Basilica
| Issuer | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Year | 2009 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Other (Ground plan of St Peter's Basilica) |
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| Reverse description | Stylised aerial ground-plan of St Peter's Basilica rendered in intricate geometric relief, faithfully echoing the cruciform nave and flanking chapels of Michelangelo and Maderno's masterwork. Five inset gemstones adorn the design: four red crystals positioned at the principal crossing points of the plan and one centrally placed white crystal marking the main dome, adding vivid chromatic contrast to the gold field. Finely engraved architectural detailing fills the shaped field, evoking the grandeur of the Vatican basilica. The Latin inscription BASILICA SANCTI PETRI appears in three lines above the date 2009 in the lower exergue. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Cook Islands has issued commemorative gold in .99999 fineness since the mid-2000s, a purity level that requires exceptionally controlled refining and was adopted primarily to compete in the premium bullion gift market dominated by the Royal Canadian Mint's Maple Leaf program. At five nines fine, the alloy is soft enough that contact marks appear from handling alone.